Thanksgiving at Jincy's - Another Year

In what is becoming a yearly tradition, Sheila and I once again had Thanksgiving dinner at Jincy's Kitchen in Qualls, Oklahoma.  We have done so now for several years and it appears that the pattern is in place.

The drive over was nice.  Sheila and I always enjoy a road trip.  About ten minutes into it, I decided to spend an hour or two without my usual news, murder mysteries, true crime and easy listening/light classical music.  The DJ on the 60's channel had a good mix going and we enjoyed listening to it, singing along when we felt like it and poking the "info" button on the receiver to refresh our memories as to who sang what, when.

The season cooperated as well.  Due to the late fall, the foliage was as good as I have ever seen it.  In
years past, I have waxed poetic about reconnecting with my roots for the holiday by driving deep into my native Cookson Hills and eating a meal that tastes exactly like my Mother's cooking at its best.  And, I have already pretty well exhausted discussion about my complicated love hate relationship with the Cookson Hills and Eastern Oklahoma in general.

Debbie is on the left.  Diana her assistant is on the right.

We were about twenty minutes early but still not the first to arrive.  Chief of the Cherokee Nation Bill John Baker, another Jincy's regular, had already arrived.  Within moments, cars began streaming in and soon the place was full.  Debby, our host, greeted us graciously and immediately made us feel at home.  She has a knack for that.  Hospitality is an Oklahoma tradition that she practices with every guest.

Our table companions were a couple about our age from Ft. Smith who had decided to spend the holiday on nearby Lake Tenkiller and surprisingly enough, a Tulsa couple of about the same age from our neighborhood.  Within the usual five sentences with the Tulsa couple we had identified common acquaintances, shopping hangouts, etc.

After everyone had a good chance to visit, Debby announced the buffet line was ready.  Chief Baker was called upon to say grace over the meal, another institution at Jincy's.  At Jincy's you say grace.  During the prayer, the Chief jokingly called those of us gathered together for the meal, "the chosen few," a reference to the fact that a holiday meal at Jincy's is by reservation only and this year Debby decided to do only one sitting as opposed to the multiple sittings offered in years past.

The food was, as always, superb.  Debbie has managed to master the old fashioned Oklahoma recipes that we all remember fondly from our youth. Sheila and I decided to sit for a while and let the line go down. As we approached the serving table, I noticed Debbie gently taking the plate of a disabled gentleman and serving him personally so that he didn't have to worry about manipulating his cane and a plate.  I remembered fondly how just a couple of years ago, she did the same thing for me when I could barely walk.

We had a quiet drive back.  We slipped back into our old habits on the way and listened to two lurid true crime tales of first degree murder (by church people btw) on the satellite radio.  My eyelids were getting pretty heavy by the time we reached the midway McD's on the Muskogee Turnpike.  Sheila was kind enough to go in and get me a cup of coffee.  When we arrived at home, we were in bed within fifteen minutes enjoying a much needed nap.

It is easy to become depressed during the holiday season.  If you let them, the problems and disappointments that are always just under the surface become more apparent in our heightened expectations for the season.  Looking back, I remembered the years when I was in so much pain despite hip to calf braces, strong meds and two canes that I could barely walk to the table much less enjoy the meal.  I remembered the years when Sheila was struggling with breast cancer and we ate the meal silently wondering if this would be our last together.  I remembered the years when we were middle aged, broke, under employed and virtually unemployable at our former level, struggling to get each other through college.  Looking back over those times, I can truly say that we were abundantly blessed this year and I am truly thankful to God for it.