For many, this holiday weekend is one marked by a full table spread of home-made food, often prepared by mom, or grandma, or a dad who was raised right (He’s not just here for barbecuing, Julie! Common, challenge your man! He has what it takes to prepare dinner while you can watch football with a Bud Light in hand while your kids complain no stop about the itchy dress clothes you made them wear – you’ve earned it.)
For many families across the country, grandmas are a key figure who hosts the dinner, or who you host at yours. In light of public health guidelines, advising for smaller Thanksgiving gatherings with little to no outside family or friends over, we decided to check in with several grandmas on how they are dealing with following the guidelines.
Our interviews are transcribed as recorded, no information is redacted or edited. We aimed to capture authentic moments with members of the most vulnerable population right now, on a day like no other.
These are their stories.
Roberta, 71, joins us from Bethesda, Maryland, calling in via zoom. Roberta lives in a two bedroom semi-detached townhouse with her husband of 52 years, Harvey. Her hobbies include hiking, needle point art, baking, and making Harvey his favorite snacks while he watches the game on Sundays. Every year on Thanksgiving, she prepares a full dining room table of food to feed her family.
Hi Roberta, thanks so much for agreeing to sit down with us today! We just wanted to call and see how you were doing in light of not being able to see your family this year. How have things been so far?
Roberta: Hi, thanks for having me! Oh well, you know what it sure is different, I’ll say! It’ll be a…a big change from having all four of the kids over, all of the grandbabies and everything. But it is what it is — we’re making due, and we’re being safe!
Well that’s great to hear! You look like you’re still taking some time for yourself I see! I have to say your blow-out looks really great. Those nails too — such an interesting design!
Roberta: Ops, hehe! I mean with all of this free time…what’s a girl to do, you know! I’ve been cooking Thanksgiving ever since Harv and I first got married way back when. I’ve taken so much pride in really just making the recipes my own —
Oh, well Roberta, I hate to cut you off, but it looks like Harv’s ears we’re burning when he heard that! I image that’s him in the background? Is that — wait, is that a leopard print coat? It’s floor length…why is he dancing? Does he know that you’re live right now?
Harv: Heeeelllllooooo, where is my beautiful leopardess? I’m searching through the jungle for her, I want to find her oh sooo badly — where oh where could she be?
Roberta: Oh my, oh my, I’m so — Harv! I’m not ready, I told you 7:30!
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Ethel, 85, was born and bred in Provincetown, Rhode Island, and has lived in the same one-bedroom apartment since 1976, after her third divorce. Ethel enjoys smoking, couponing, and crocheting tiny plus toys for her 11 grandkids. She clarified that even though they’re all grown, no one has ever told her to stop.
On Thanksgiving, she normally goes over to her eldest son, Ferris’ home in upstate Connecticut. Her youngest, Johnny, picks her up for the drive every year.
Ethel, I’m so happy you had time to sit down with us and chat for a little bit! How is this Thanksgiving going for you? I imagine it must be hard spending the holiday weekend away from your family.
Ethel: Nope. Been going at things alone for so long — what’s a weekend?
Oh, yes — I mean…I didn’t really think about it that way. Don’t you wish you could get out of the house a bit thou-
Ethel: No, no, no — listen to what I’m saying. I am not going to spend a full weekend, heartbroken about oh, I don’t even know what. I’ve got everything I need right here. I’ve got my smokes, I’ve got my Johnny Walker, and I’m going to have my gossip fairly soon.
Gossip? Are you expecting a call?
Ethel: I am! Every year my great-niece Stella and I, sit out in the living room, and she tells me everything that’s going on. Who’s sleeping around — last year it was Marla’s boy, Todd. Or Josh. Something like that — the kid sounds like an ass. Sleeping around on his girlfriend. Who woulda expected something like that — when they’re so young?
My! How old…is he? Who is Marla exactly?
Ethel: Oh, well Marla married Eddie, but she was already flirting around with Ethan so you just know how that would end up — op, you know what, this is Stella. She’s face calling me — can I get her on here with us?
Well no — Ethel, that’s a whole other platf-
Ethel: Hi hunnie! Oh my god, you won’t believe where I am right now. I was just getting into the whole Marla and Eddie situation, haha. Op! I know!
Ethel, Ethel! Listen I think we’re going to have to cut things here!
Ethel: Now hunnie, jog my memory — who was Eddie seeing? Was it — Carlie! The I-E! Yes!
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Finally, Donna, 78, joins us from Satellite Beach, Florida. Her hobbies include tanning, going to the beach, and spending time with “her girls”.
Thanksgiving for her, typically mark the beginning of when her family of eight would come to stay at her water-front property, until the end of the year.
Hi Donna, thanks so much for — oh, Donna? Hello? Donna all we can see is sand right now. Donna? DONNA! Can you hear me over that loud music? Hello?
