I am nigh-excited.

Of course, what we're really celebrating is a group of WOEFULLY unprepared E

nglish types who arrived in the colonies with things like 200 pairs of shoes (for one guy - must have been Twist's ancestor), musical instruments, and encyclopedias, but no farming equipment, hunting equipment, fishing line, or anyone who knew anything about living off the land or in the wilderness. Seriously. (All knowledge cribbed from Bill Bryson's excellent I'm a Stranger Here Myself.

So despite the subsequent massacre of the Amerindian peoples, we continue to celebrate the fall holiday with a load of buttered foodstuffs, family and friends and it's the best holiday of the year. Without the awkward drunkeness of Halloween and the family fights that seem to focus around Christmas and did I mention the food? Lots and lots of food!

I guess I grew up in a fairly assimilated immigrant family - my family barely paid attention to Chinese New Year (traditionally the most important Chinese holiday), but Thanksgiving? Big deal! We spent about half our Turkey days in Foster City (driving up from LA) or inviting about 3-4 familes to our place. And we had the traditional meal too - sure there were additions that you wouldn't find next door (except for at the Fungs - they were Chinese too) - stuff like Chinese greens, stuffing made with Chinese sticky rice and preserved sasuages, roast duck or char siu for the Chinese relatives who thought that turkey was too dry - but otherwise it was the usual meal of turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, etc. Here in Shanghai, we're preparing for a big feast tomorrow night. We have 20-25 people coming by and I'm very excited. Our menu so far is: 1 Whole Butter Roasted Turkey (7-8kg - that's a big turkey) Apple Cider Giblet Gravy Jalepeno Cornbread Stuffing Cranberry Relish Creamy Mashed Potatoes Maple Spiced Roast Sweet Potatoes Palak Paneer (INDIAN THANKSGIVING!!!!!) 3 different types of salad Roast Duck Chocolate Cake Pumpkin Pie and homemade cinnamon ice cream Pecan Tartlettes What are you having for Thanksgiving? What are you family traditions?