There’s more to this month than Thanksgiving
November-December 2025
by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist
With holiday hoopla looming around the corner, I hope there won’t be any scares or surprises. Those can come in any form and I am sometimes taken unaware.
This year, I’ve decided to fully embrace everything November has to offer. I believe November and March are often overlooked months that don’t receive the respect they deserve. On second thought, March isn’t much more than St. Patrick’s Day. But November? There’s a lot to enjoy!
In November, some of the trees still have hearty fall leaves clinging to them. It’s a happy sight, and one that we won’t be able to enjoy much longer as we embark into winter.
The weather can be unpredictable in November. One day might be filled with bright, warm sunshine, and the next, snow could be blowing through the air. Who knows what we’ll get? It’s still a month with plenty of great walking opportunities. And we can take our time walking since it’s no longer scorchingly hot.
One thing that comes to mind in November is classrooms filled with youngsters tracing their hands on paper and then turning their artwork into turkeys. I think it’s also time to root through the cupboards and gather all the cooking implements and holiday-themed dishes to get them ready for the big feast at the end of the month.
I hope you’re looking forward to a house full of relatives and friends, all coming together to share food and joy. Sometimes, these gatherings can turn into disagreements and loud arguments. It’s a great time to avoid discussing politics altogether. Here’s what my family does to prevent anyone from being overserved alcohol: Try Welch’s grape juice. Serve it in champagne glasses. It tastes great, and driving home isn’t an issue. Save the spirits for after all the guests have left.
There’s really no way to eat judiciously during Thanksgiving. It’s all so delicious, and we don’t get a lot of Thanksgiving-like meals the rest of the year. Give me a Thanksgiving turkey over an Easter ham any day!
If you and your loved ones like to live dangerously, there’s a trend to deep-fry an entire turkey in a big vat. It looks pretty scary, and there is no way I’d try doing it. But if someone manages to fry up a big turkey and no disasters occur, I would certainly like to sample some of it.
Here’s my take on Thanksgiving desserts: Forget about them! Personally, I think my two least favorite desserts are pumpkin pie and mincemeat pie. So, I usually plan to have another helping of mashed potatoes and dressing instead.
Isn’t the very best thing about Thanksgiving dinner the fact that the next day there are turkey, cheese and cranberry dressing sandwiches? That’s what I like best about Thanksgiving.
I hope you all have a happy holiday! Save yourself a few sandwiches for later. Don’t forget to be thankful! And why not take a long walk and burn off some of those Thanksgiving calories!
To order a copy of Margo’s “A Party of One,” call 540-468-2147 Mon.-Wed., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., or email [email protected].
