Saturday, and all the chores are done, lunch is over, and it's time to go get the turkey. To all my cousins, on mom's side of the family. Did you ever wonder, where did that bird come from?
Saturday chores at Grandma's always consisted of waxing those beautiful oak floors. First the paste polish, then the two wheel buffing . I can still smell the wax, and hear the conversation of busy women, and two little boys. Hurry up we have to go get the turkey! Well, in today's world that would be simple! Right? Not in those days! Grandma would get the car, and come into the house, grab a small sack of orange slice, and circus peanut candy, and give the command. " Fartich soo gaen"(ready to go) in hutterish, the unwritten language of the Hutterite people.
In 1874 my Great grandfather, Paul Tschetter emigrated to the United States from Russia, and they were Hutterites, of the party of 1200 people that came to the US. 400 colonized, and 800 lived on homesteads ( a little history lesson). We lived on a homestead. But Grandma had a cousin that was married to the Boss of the Maxwell colony, and they raised turkeys, and that's where we were headed. Every year some turkey was going to face "Black Saturday" (we didn't have black Friday). I always enjoyed that trip with Grandma. It took a long time to get there, and all the old people would talk about the year's happenings, over a cup of coffee and a sviboke (biscuits still baked every Saturday at Hutterite colonies). Then it was time for black Saturday. We would walk down to the turkey yard, and out off 1000 bird's Grandma would point her cane, and he would be the one. Every time she picked the bird. Huska would ask; are you sure that's the one Anna? She would nod her head "Yes"! After she pointed her cane, five young boys would run through the flock of birds and grab a turkey, invariably two would get caught. Huska had to ask "Which one Anna"? she would point left or right with her cane and identify the bird. After the 20 minute ordeal we would go to her other cousins house, and have coffee, and sviboke, and go to the broom house and Grandma would buy a yea'rs supply of brooms. (her cousins husband was the preacher and broom maker). The whole ritual finally comes to a end about three and a half hours later.
Thanksgiving day was always special, one of the days we got to see our cousins from the big city. Uncle Bennie and his kids would come to Ma and Pas house and the two things that I remember are, Pepsi, and Coke. They would get a 6 pack of each every week( I was told by Sharon) and when they came to Grandma's, they always shared them with us. It's where I acquired a taste for Pepsi which I still have today.
There are many more memories I could share from a child's point of view, but your time, and mine are limited. So many fond memories, and it would be fun to do them again. The people that made them have passed, but are still alive in my heart. I love you all, and have a blessed Thanksgiving with your families.. Wish we could get together one more time. Oh, by the way, now you know where the turkey came from, and there is a black Saturday!
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