It’s that time of year again.
Turkeys stock home freezers.
Plans are made to gather with friends and family — whether they live a few miles away, or across the country.
There’s the anticipation of a veritable feast of Thanksgiving football games, and the not-so-subtle signs that Christmas is just around the corner.
And, as this day set aside for gratitude approaches, millions of Americans may choose to observe decades’ old traditions, while others try something new and spontaneous.
For some, it will just be a regular Thursday.
We talked with residents in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to see if they have special plans for Thanksgiving, and what the holiday means to them personally.
For Carol Duren, a homemaker from Lutz, the spirit of Thanksgiving is not something attached to a specific day on a calendar.
“Every day is thankfulness to God,” Duren said.
As a native Californian, Duren recalls a time when it was easier for families to spend Thanksgiving together.
It’s harder to achieve that unity today because loved ones are scattered and people work odd work hours, she said.
However, she said she’s looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with her children, who live out of state.
She also plans to dine on traditional favorites, including cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes.
Maryhelen Zopfi, also of Lutz, said Thanksgiving in her home is different from the Thanksgivings of her childhood.
“When I was growing up, everybody came and had dinners together,” Zopfi said. “Now, everybody seems to go out to restaurants to have dinners.”
She and her husband, Simon, have been married for 49 years. Sometimes, they host Thanksgiving dinner, while other times they travel out of town.
In Zopfi’s mind, Thanksgiving is similar to Veterans Day — because it’s intended to be a day set aside for gratitude.
She and her husband have shared the same holiday table for decades, but their choice of food is different.
“He likes the turkey and I’m vegan, so I’ll go for the vegetables,” Zopfi said.
Celebrating old traditions, making new ones
Land O’ Lakes resident Frances Laverghetta has a personal claim on the holiday.
“I was born on Thanksgiving, so it’s meaningful to me,” the Tampa native said.
She plans to spend the holiday with her son and his family, in Spring Hill. And, she said there’s zero chance that she’ll decline a chance to enjoy a nice slice of pumpkin pie.
Land O’ Lakes resident Anna Sykora, who originally hails from Ohio, has fond memories of old traditions — such as the sweet potato sauce, a special family dish that she still enjoys today.
But she embraces creating new traditions, too.
Celebrating the holiday is more than just a ritual, Sykora emphasized. It aims to honor what really matters in life.
“I’m grateful for what I have – my family,” said Sykora, and, she added, she’s also thankful to be in good health.
Land O’ Lakes resident Larry Peteet, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, takes a certain patriotic pride in celebrating Thanksgiving.
Now an independent software consultant, Peteet said his outlook about Thanksgiving differs markedly from when he was young. Back then, he said, it was all about being out of school for the holiday.
“It was never about giving thanks,” Peteet said.
His attitude has shifted because he now appreciates the value of gratitude.
His enthusiasm for traditional Thanksgiving foods has not wavered a bit, however.
“Turkey and ham [are] phenomenal,” raved Peteet. “I love the creamed green bean casserole. Sweet potatoes are awesome with marshmallows.”
Living alone at Thanksgiving can be tough, Peteet added, noting his family lives in Alabama and South Carolina.
Still, he plans to make the best of the holiday by spending it with his British Labrador, Sandy Girl.
Seventy-one-year-old John Mathe, of Dade City, is looking forward to the holiday festivities.
With grown children living in both Florida and Pennsylvania, it’s difficult to gather everyone together for the joyous occasion, he said.
“You always long for those old traditions – lots of people, long tables, lay down on the couch and you go to sleep,” he reminisced.
He also noted, with a chuckle, that he looks forward to having foods he knows he shouldn’t — because he’s diabetic.
Mathe said the holiday should prompt consideration of those who are less fortunate.
“They need to be thought about,” Mathe said, and they need to know that people care about them.
Kristine Johnson, a Dade City resident, said her family celebrates when they can get the family together — usually a day or two before Thanksgiving because her daughter works in retail.
Though not celebrating on the specific holiday, the family does have a tradition: They enjoy wildlife and go camping, she said.
Also, in her opinion, when it comes to turkey stuffing, there’s only one way to serve it properly: With the dressing in the bird, not on the side.
Zephyrhills resident Betty Harris has lived in Florida for 45 years, by way of Tennessee.
She adopted her daughter 25 years ago, and said Thanksgiving reminds her of the precious nature of life.
Her Thanksgiving menu features many of the foods she enjoyed while growing up, including sweet potato casserole, green beans and mashed potatoes.
Carolyn Clark, a Zephyrhills bus driver, said it’s a priority for her to spend Thanksgiving with her family — back where she grew up in Texas.
When it comes to the menu, she said she won’t settle for anything less than ham, turkey and dressing.
Published November 21, 2018
