Thanksgiving is all about a family tradition at our home and the home of Pam and Jeff Gray, our daughter and son-in-law.

For me, its starts a week ahead shopping for the “just right” 22-25 lb. turkey, cleaning and checking out the working condition of my electric smoker and securing a bucket of green hickory or pecan tree chips.

A soon as I can break away from work on Thanksgiving Eve, the thawed turkey is prepped and placed in the smoker for 14 hours of cooking at approximately 300 degrees. Checks are made every two to three hours to add water to the pan under the turkey and hickory chips around the heating element. If all goes as planned, the golden turkey will be removed early Thanksgiving Day and allowed to cool before carving and serving.

Meanwhile, the women folk of the families are busy preparing side dishes and desserts – green beans, mashed potatoes, casseroles, salads, coconut cake, pecan pies and sweet tea.

Family members and other dinner guests begin arriving at the Gray home with food in hand around 11 a.m., just in time to take in a bit of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and savor the taste-tempting smells coming from the kitchen and dining room.

You never know who all is coming for Thanksgiving dinner at the Grays, other than grandparents, parents, grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Extended family and family friends whose families live far away are always welcome. Special guests one year were two soldiers stationed at Redstone Arsenal.

Extra large plates are the norm to make room for a portion of all of the mouth-watering meats, Pam’s cornbread dressing, vegetables and, casseroles. Everyone digs in with gusto following a Prayer of thanks and blessing of the meal.

A separation of the sexes takes place after the food is put away until suppertime. The men will watch whatever is on the TV in a comfortable chair or sofa until they give in to their stuffed stomachs and take a nap. The women spread the Black Friday advertising circulars on the floor and chart their course for bargain shopping adventure that night and early the next day. Sometimes, it calls for us men to get involved, reluctantly, waiting in lines for stores to open. I recall getting up at 2 a.m. on a Friday morning and waiting in line at Toys ‘R Us for three hours to buy a Christmas Barbie doll.

Good food, close family and friends and money saved shopping for Christmas gifts make for a happy holiday at the Knight and Gray homes. Our wish for you and yours is to have your own traditional happy holiday.

Clif Knight is a staff writer for the Hartselle Enquirer.