Turkey Day at the Zaragoza Residence

No warm memories of a hot, golden turkey right out of the oven. Or of warm, fluffy stuffing. Or of tangy sweet jiggly cranberry sauce. Nope. My fondest memories of Turkey Day will be of my dad hammering and sawing away while we're dressed in our Thursday finest.

Take, for example, this picture taken on Turkey Day 2008. While our dining room table is set, brimming with delicious food, my brother and uncle are busy helping my dad put up a ceiling. This is normal in the Casa Zaragoza. Just another day in Boyle Heights. Never mind that it's Turkey Day and the family is gathered to spend an hour together gorging ourselves while watching Dallas play on the big screen. Never mind that we're all waiting to dive right in. Never mind that this is the only day out of the whole year we actually eat together at the table. Nope. We have to wait until the construction zone is closed for the day.

It's typical. It's funny. And, for better or worse, it's my family.

So much fun!!!

Thanks reese81! I LOVE THIS! Wordle is where it's at! Now I have to create one for everything I adore!

Like USC Football!

And the beach!

Oh, too addicting.....

Ahh....this is the life

This is where it all starts. The beginning of a long night in the alley, chowing down on good grub, throwing back some Tecates, shooting the shit with the fam bam. Some people’s idea of a good time may involve hitting the hottest spot on the Sunset Strip or wining and dining at an overpriced fancy restaurant. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy that too, occasionally. After all, I am from LA. But my idea of the BEST time is kicking it with my peeps. There's nothing like firing up the grill at the spur of the moment, grabbing some food at the grocery store down the street, and just hanging out talking about whatever. It's times like these when the best tasting food is made, the funniest stories are told, and true bonding happens. Not the sissy kind of bonding like telling each other how much we love each other and all that nonsense. I mean the unspoken bonding that occurs between a brother and sister who, though never said aloud, will do anything for each other and always have each other's backs. I mean the kind of bonding that can only happen between uncles and cousins and nieces and nephews and brother-in-laws at 3 in the morning after 5 bottles of cheap wine and several tortillas later.

This may not be what Hallmark cards are made of, but it's what Boyle Heights is made of, and it's what I'm made of, and that's a whole lot better if you ask me.