The Turkey Trot

Oct 25

Written By Nancy O

To know Nancy is to know she loves cake. Sometimes I am not in the mood for a party or a wedding, but I will show up because I heard there would be cake. When handed a menu, the first thing I check to see is if they have cake for dessert and then order accordingly. My Mom used to say I would eat a whole cake if it were less than a pound. I would eat the entire thing! Seriously.

The I Heard There Would Be Cake section of Living Beautifully With Nancy O is where I share anecdotes from my 70-plus years around the sun and about growing up Italian in San Francisco! It’s all about fun, love, light and gratitude.

THANKSGIVING—YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Every year my friends and family join me for the Fort Collins Thanksgiving Day Run on Thanksgiving morning. I like to call it the Turkey Trot as it reminds me of a little New England town where we had our beach house and participated in a Turkey Trot, with our then puppy (now 13 years old), every year. Our puppy’s name is Madison, named after that town so that we would never forget it and the memories we made there.

We now live in Fort Collins, Colorado, where we are closer to my brother and his two sons. At one time, Fort Collins was the home to the whole family, but the others have earned their wings and are in heaven now. My mom hung in there until she was 101 years old. She passed over last year. Now, it's just the boys and me (my husband, my brother and my two nephews). Secretly I love it. I am now the matriarch, and I run the show. Heaven on earth for me!

This year, as always, we will run or walk in the Turkey Trot. We usually have the dubious honor of coming in last. We stop and chat with the firefighters at the firehouse. We pause and admire cute houses and gardens we spot along the way. Needless to say, we are easily distracted.

Back at home, my brother and former owner of a local restaurant, always cooks the turkey. I am in charge of decorating the table. And the guests? They are kept plenty busy and are invited to join us in the kitchen. We delegate to each “team” a dish. We cook, sip wine, tell stories and laugh—a lot. Dinner is not always on time nor perfect, but we always have fun. And really, isn’t that what matters.

I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Love, laugh and have fun!