Discussion: When have you opened your heart and home?
Share your stories of showing love and kindness to others (or stories of receiving it!) AND a bonus "What I'm Cooking"
Welcome to some new subscribers—CJ, Debra W., Amanda C., rmorgan, Monica C, Don A., Mia W., Tobias, Cyrus N., Aaron H., Neil B., Olga S., and plusterli. I hope you enjoy this community of readers. I learn so much from our discussions in the comments, and I’m grateful you’re here!
Discussion
On Saturday I wrote about how we said yes to a heart-expanding experience—one that was hard, rewarding, awkward, and fun. The season challenged me to be more flexible and to share my heart and home with someone who was culturally very different. I enjoyed hearing from some of you readers in the comments of that post and thought we’d continue it here.
Tell me about a time you opened your heart, home, or life to someone who may have been lost, lonely, or displaced.
“When our son was a toddler we decided, after some debate, to apply for an au pair. We thought it was a simple deal--we host a young person for a year, and they help take care of our kid. Well, the au pairs are teenagers, with all that that entails. We had to become their second parents, though that was never said out loud--helping them cope with homesickness, culture shock, an eating disorder, broken hearts, coming out (yes) and, occasionally, some really awful behaviour. I say "them" because despite, or perhaps because of, all the challenges, we renewed every year for twelve years. Our son is still close to some of them. We had set out to do something practical, and it turned into something so much more.”
Charles in Saturday’s comments
OR
Tell me about a time you felt lost, lonely, or displaced and someone extended kindness by welcoming you into their lives.
“I’ve been on the same boat as Kennedy where I didn’t have family around me when I moved to the West Coast. Till this day, my heart is filled with gratitude for the people who welcomed me into their lives and treated me as family…”
Stella in Saturday’s comments
Head over to the comments and tell us your story!
What I’m Cooking
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in the United States, and I’ll be in the kitchen preparing some side dishes to take to our daughter’s home—one that will be full of unrelated people, lots of chaos, and plenty of love. More on that Saturday.
Until then, here’s what I’m hoping not to screw up making:
Jalapeno Popper Cheeseball - Is this a Thanksgiving food? Who cares?! There are picky people who hate all Thanksgiving foods, and they are gonna love this.
Buffalo Chicken Dip - Another Not-Thanksgiving food. I’m not sure where I originally found this recipe, but it’s simple:
1 to 1.5 pounds of cooked chicken
16 oz. cream cheese
1 cup ranch dressing
3/4 cup hot sauce (we like Frank’s original)
Heat it all in a slow cooker (this will take some time, so start early) and serve with celery sticks or cracker. If you’re short on time, heat the chicken and hot sauce on the stove then add the cream cheese and ranch. Transfer to slow cooker to keep warm.
Cranberry sauce - homemade, not the stuff in a can, but apparently some people have strong opinions on what makes “good cranberry sauce.”
Composed Waldorf Salad - because I need something healthy on my plate.
Curried Butternut Squash Soup - again, some lighter fare to keep me from overdoing it on the not-so-healthy selections. I combined two recipes for my version, so I don’t have a link to share you. I’ll try to get it into the December Collection.
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust and Caramel Sauce - This takes some effort, but it’s worth it. I’m not a big pumpkin fan and still love this. The crust just sets it off!
See you back here Saturday!
OMG! Buffalo Chicken Wing dip!!! It will surely kill you, in a good way. This delicious train wreck of an appetizer shows up at every Kadet family occasion (we are from Buffalo) including Thanksgiving. It’s also a great breakfast! Enjoy with totilla chips and a Coca-Cola! I am VERY looking forward to tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving Holly!!,
Even though I’ve long had enough seniority to hold the day off, I intentionally work every Thanksgiving.
There are some very obvious reasons: light workload, good pay, and being done at 12:30.
I mean, No one I know has family over or Thanksgiving brunch, right?
Every year someone asks me what I’m thinking. And I get to tell this story:
In 1998, I took a temporary transfer to Memphis Tennessee. It was-and remains- the only time I’ve lived in the south. I worked in a hub surrounded by 100s of other coworkers and didn’t know a single one. I had just clocked in a few weeks prior- there hadn’t been time to make acquaintances, let alone friends.
The guy I rented a room from was off to visit his kids. My girlfriend at the time was working in Chicago. I was 1 guy, 2 time zones from home. Even the unit I was assigned to was at the far end of the B concourse. I was a long way from home & we were a long ways from every one else.
But that Thanksgiving, we had a potluck. Our unit ground handled KLM, and I think(?) they supplied the turkey. Everyone else brought delicious homemade sides. I brought…Fritos.
I know, I know. To be fair, I was 23 and renting a room in a strange town.
At any rate, we ate in our ready room, and as we did a revelation hit me like lightning; family is what you make it. I didn’t know these people too well, but I spent every day with them.
The truth is, I’ve never felt more welcome anywhere on T-day than I did that day. It rearranged my mind, and I swore that I would do my part to see that anyone else in my shoes would be made to feel the same way.
Aviation can be transient as it is, with people coming & going even during good times. With COVID and the massive turnover we’ve seen, there will be more than one person on the roster spending their first T-day at work.
My goal is to make them feel the way I did all those years ago.
P.S. I’m probably bringing chips.
P.P.S. That salad looks goooood!