Digital Nomad Thanksgivings
Exploring ways I've celebrated and adjusted traditions to celebrate Thanksgiving on the road.
Our traditional thanksgiving…
Growing up, we always had Thanksgiving at Grandma’s house. The entire extended family would gather. We would celebrate with the traditional Thanksgiving feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, sweat potatoes, dressing (it was cooked in a separate pan, not stuffed inside the bird), green bean casserole, rolls and breads of all shapes, pumpkin and other pies. Debi’s family had a similar tradition, only her Grandma and uncle and aunt usually came to their house. For both of us, Thanksgiving was watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade and gathering with family to feast on turkey.
After we moved to Colorado, we made it back to Omaha a few times, but it wasn’t long before that trip was too much for her. Sometime her parents or mine would make the trip out to have Thanksgiving with us. Nevertheless, we continued even when it was just the two of us, we almost always had the typical Thanksgiving meal.
Three years of Thanksgiving in the camper
When we got the travel trailer, we decided to have Thanksgiving at a campground. That year, we made Estes Park our second home, so it was only fitting that we would spend the holiday there. I still remember trying to make the traditional turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn-bread pudding, and yams in that tiny little kitchen. I had things cooking in the oven, on the stove, on the BBQ grill, and over the campfire. It was quite the culinary three-ring circus! After that year, I swore I would never try to do a full Thanksgiving meal in the camper again.
The following year, I decided for something a little simpler. I made turkey and noodles with mashed potatoes. I boiled a turkey breast in a pot, added noodles and thickener, and made the mashed potatoes using fire roasted potatoes. A much simpler, yet deliciously reconstructed Thanksgiving meal.
A third year, 2010, we had moved into the motorhome in Woodland Park to open the store. This was the year we didn’t expect Debi to make it to Christmas, so we had asked both of our parents to come that season. My parents came for Thanksgiving, Debi’s came sometime in December. Since the church was across the street from the RV park, we asked if we could use the church to host my parents for Thanksgiving. With a full kitchen, I went ahead and made a fairly traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Debi was very sensitive to many additives. I had to make an organic and gluten free meal. My mom was very surprised at how well I pulled it off. I had figured out how to make the green-bean casserole using a homemade cream of mushroom soup (the secret was bacon fat, wine, and heavy cream.)
That gives me an idea, during this time (Black Friday - Giving Tuesday) anyone who pre-buys my books or gives to our fund-raiser will receive 10 of my recipes. Including the cream of mushroom soup and green-bean casserole from scratch.
When there is no turkey dinner to be found
Fast forward several years. The year is 2021, when I spent the last half of the year in Brazil. My company was invited to pitch at a business conference in Switzerland. I invited Renato to come along and spend a few weeks exploring Europe. We were in Manchester, England on Thanksgiving day. I checked several restaurants, but no one was serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Finally, we found Chinatown. I decided if I can’t have a traditional Thanksgiving meal, I would opt for a very good Chinese buffet instead.
The following year, 2022, I found myself in the United Kingdom again. This time in London. I was visiting some old friends who were originally from the states. I knew if we could pull off a Thanksgiving dinner, they would no where to find the ingredients. Several friends from church wanted to help me celebrate Thanksgiving. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends who were like family to me.
This year, I am in Guyana, another British Commonwealth nation. Of course, they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Yuri and I decided to walk to the national park and seawall area. I had already given up on the idea of finding a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I was even looking forward to a new tradition of jerk chicken! We were walking back to our apartment. Yuri said he was getting hungry, “At least there are several restaurants nearby”, he said, “and I really want meat” (which is Brazilian for beef or maybe pork.) We had just spent the last 10 days in Lethem, where everything was chicken or fish. Even the burgers, we made with chicken, chicken sausage and egg.
We walked past a bar and steak house that had a BBQ sign. “If you want meat, that’s the place to get it” I said. We walked in, and on the tables was a Thanksgiving Dinner menu. They were offering choice of two: turkey, ham, or chicken with stuffing, mac and cheese, and green bean casserole. I couldn’t believe it. Yuri still didn’t want bird of any kind. The person behind the counter looked around and quietly pulled the regular menu from behind the counter. Suddenly, I felt like the Godfather. Yuri made a joke about them holding back the good stuff. A little negotiating with the kitchen, and we had procured a prime piece of beef for Yuri, and I got to have my traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Oh and the time Grandma shrunk the turkey
Now that I have describe some experiences with Thanksgiving as a nomad, I will leave you with story from my childhood. I was pretty young, and just starting to understand different foods. I knew that Thanksgiving was about the Turkey, and we needed a big bird to feed the entire clan. What I didn’t know was that Grandma also usually roasted a chicken too. I walked out into the kitchen just as Grandma pulled the chicken out of the oven. I nearly burst into tears seeing the tiny creature that I thought was going to have to feed the entire family. Fighting back the tears, I exclaimed “Grandma! What did you do? You shrunk the turkey!” Everyone in the kitchen burst out laughing. Grandma took me in her arms to show me the turkey happily cooking as large and plump as ever in the roaster nearby.
Of course that story got told several times over the years, and even found it’s way to my in-laws and friends homes!
Make the most of your situation
When you find yourself in unexpected places, and your normal traditions aren’t working. Don’t be afraid to make some new traditions. Maybe the old memories are hard because of grief, loss, or trauma. Ask your friends and loved ones to help you create some new memories and experiences. Don’t let circumstances keep you from celebrating and enjoying the time you are given.
And, please, be sure to let your young kids no ahead of time if you are making both turkey and chicken so as not to unduly traumatize them!
Don’t forget to prepurchase my books or give to my fund-raiser this weekend to claim your free gift of 10 of my favorite recipes.
I enjoy reading your stories, Chet! Glad you found your traditional Thanksgiving meal this year! ☺️