The Night Before Thanksgiving

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It’s a big drinking night, right?

I was planning on easing into the long weekend, but had a really early start - the freaking day before Thanksgiving.

Back in the day, I was up for all sorts of shenanigans the night before Thanksgiving.

I recall a night of drinking at the Den where I went straight Bloody Mary’s.

Tasted good…

…tough hangover.

In college, my buddy George and I stopped for one before hitting the road. Me to Buffalo and George to Meadville.

One turned into enough to keep us both in Erie for an extra night and my Mom wasn’t thrilled with me when I walked in the door just an hour before dinner was served.

Back in those days, no one could get a hold of anyone else at the drop of a hat.

“Why didn’t you call?” Mom asked.

“We didn’t pay the phone bill.”

And I’m pretty happy that I don’t drink very much at all because I didn’t eat enough as I could back in the day.

It’s funny but the one Thanksgiving I always go back to was 1986.

We were out in California.

Most of the family had returned to Buffalo but those of us who were still out in Mountain View played basketball in 75 degrees, and then went swimming.

Dad cooked everything as the Lions game started and we all made fun of how bad the Lions were and it was an unbelievable game - Joe Ferguson (former Bills QB) had an epic game.

And Dad was suffering with the gout. Poor guy was losing it…on the couch in pure agony…as we all tried to figure out how to help him.

There is no helping someone suffer through an episode of gout - I only had one episode….and one of the reasons I stopped drinking beer was because I never wanted to battle it again.

But, we chase memories.

Thanksgiving in ‘86 won’t ever be forgotten!

Tonight?

I’m going to brine the turkey and make the stuffing.

Get a good night’s sleep…

…no hoops or swimming…

…we’re waiting on snow!

Someone get me a Bloody Mary!

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