Chicago and Thanksgiving

After New York City, it was on to Chicago where Team Daugherty were hosting Thanksgiving and Hanukkah.  It began with the 67th Latke - Hamantaschen Debate at the University of Chicago.  The moderator has been handling this debate for so long that nobody can remember when he wasn't in charge.  The rules are that the debaters must have a doctorate and one of the three must be non-Jewish.  They all, debaters and moderator, appeared to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance and wearing full academic regalia.  Of course, it was the wrong academic robes for these particular people, but, hey, who'd notice that at the University of Chicago.  One debater discussed the issue in Star Wars terms and concluded that the hamantaschen was suspect because it was the same shape as part of Darth Vader's mask.  My favorite was the Professor of Medieval History who presented a tale of the battle of these forces in the style of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings with more in-jokes than anyone could count.

Thanksgiving was wonderful, vegetarian and omnivore alike.  Family, food, wine (imported from an earlier expedition to Canada, of all places) with lots of time to talk and enjoy each other.

I stayed for some extra days to have a "sleepover" with Luke and Annie, when both Elly and Steve had to be out of town on business.  I also came in handy, when first Annie and then Luke came down with colds and needed to be out of school for a few days.  It was fun as we shared Harry Potter readings, new games and breakfast at the Med.  I also got to see Annie's horseback riding lesson and Luke's skating lesson.  It's good to catch up with them and get back into the Gran persona.

Onward, or actually backward, to Michigan and my Christmas present from Judy.  A dinner at our favorite restaurant, a traditional English holiday dinner with more courses than I could keep track of, including roast goose.  I cooked goose once for Christmas about a gazillion years ago.  That was nothing special.  This on the other hand was delicious.  Now I see why it was the traditional main course in Dickens' day.