The McCarty Metro - A Blast From The Past

ED NOTE: Our Blast From The Past page contains memories from 5 years to 100 years ago. I encourage all suscribers to submit their
memories, photos, and ideas to blast@mccartymetro.com to have them shared with our family.

Thanksgiving brings back some great childhood memories. It was the first holiday after the start of school that we could look forward to a couple days off. It also brought in the first glimpse that Christmas was not far behind. I remember waking up early. Mom would already be getting prepared for the big feast that would follow in a few hours. It was always a treat to 'help' mom with the food. I remember that Dad was in charge of ripping bread up for the stuffing. The kids would help with the appetizers. The young ones would help by busting open walnuts for the stuffed dates, sprinking sugar on the dates, or filling in the crevace of the celery with cream cheese. Needless to say, many of the dates, walnuts, and cream cheese never made it to the platter as we ate as much as we created. Then there was the annual Hudson's Thanksgiving Day parade. I don't recall ever going downtown to watch in person, but we loved watching it on TV. Sonny Eliot would always host, and we would laugh out loud at all his jokes. At the end of the parade, Santa would make his appearance and get the key to the city. At that point, I knew it "was on!"

After we moved to Sterling Heights, I remember going to Grants Department Store just a couple blocks away and Santa Claus would make his appearence by helicopter into the parking lot. Why by helicopter? Because he had just come from Hudsons in downtown Detroit.

The Detroit Lions would always play on Thanksgiving Day. Although it was a nationally telivised game, it would always be blacked out in Detroit. Dad would strategically maneuver the rabbit ears on our TV to get a glimpse through the snow and static of the game. Although we couldn't really watch and enjoy it, it was always something to look forward to.

THIS MONTH'S POLL QUESTION

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PARTS OF THE
THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE?
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Floats	Clowns
Balloons	Marching Bands
Santa	Other

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LAST MONTH'S QUESTION
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What were your Top 3 horror movies of all time?

Top 3 Vote Getters Were...
(1) Halloween, (2) Nightmare On Elm Street, (3) Carrie

While the game was going on, mom would continually baste the bird, always saying it would be "another 15 minutes". Mom's dinner was alway first class with tons of turkey, stuffing, and all the fixings plus pumpkin pie for dessert. There was always enough leftovers for the entire weekend. I don't know how big the turkey actually was, but it musta been at least 50 pounds.

All in all, Thanksgiving brings back special memories of my Mom and Dad, and all my brothers together and enjoying each other. As time moved on, and the kids started dispersing, Thanksgiving Day didn't seem the same. After I got married and had kids of my own, I hope they have the same type of special memories of a simple holiday started centuries ago around good food, good frienship, love, and simpler times.

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FROM OUR NOVEMBER 1998 EDITION

VISIT GRAND RAPIDS THIS FALL

Grand Rapids is your one-stop tourist destination this fall.

Places To Dine:

LE FOOD -- "Grand Rapids' only French restaurant" offers delicious variety. How you say, boffo? Beaucoup portions, too. Too busy to dine out? Mai non! Eat up at Le Food while you let our crack staff of one (well, two if you count Kathlene holding the camcorder and doing the phone sound effects) field your calls and page you. Ask for Pepe. (NOTE: We'd like to clear up a persistent rumor about Pepe. His last name is Smith, not Speaking.)

EL FOOD -- Grand Rapids' only Mexican restaurant that has this name, offers delicious variety. So chow down, muchachos. And the telephone paging system is magnifico! Ask for Pepe, the busiest maitre d' in G.R.

Things To Do:

FISH THE GRAND -- Yep, pull on the ol' waders, mosey on into the downtown Grand River and cast away. Make sure and wave to all the guys in suits as they stroll over the bridge and pretend to ignore you.

RAKE THE MACS' LAWN: Mike is supposed to rake those things up, but guess who forgets and doesn't remember until spring when the family starts tracking muddy leaves into the house. So, do the family a favor. BYOB (Bring your own bamboo.)

SEE THE GERALD R. FORD MUSEUM: Three sides. Must see to, um, appreciate.

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS: This is a hockey team.

ERIC SWAN'S TOP 10 LIST

Bob McCarty had two comments every Thanksgiving Meal.....Well, Three if you count. Whoooooo-weeee! I don't count that one though. So, the two are... "I wonder what the poor people are eatin" and "You know how much a meal like this would cost in a restaurant? You couldn't get it."

Having eaten out at restaurants the last two Thanksgivings, I know Dad was right, because I have tried to order a Thanksgiving Dinner like Mom made and... "You just can't get it!" So, in honor of Bob McCarty I present: Top Ten Foods from McCarty Thanksgivings that you can't get in Restaurants

10. Dates 9. Cranberry Sauce molded in the shape of a can.
8. Celery with Cream Cheese in it 7. Dark Meat 6. Walnuts 5. Aerosole Whipped Cream 4. Stuffing with Gizards in it 3. Bob's Fine Fruit Platter 2. Pre-buttered Rolls 1. A Lazy Susan

THANKSGIVING by Larry McCarty

BOY, DO I LOVE FALL AND THANKSGIVING!!!!

Ahhhh.... Fall and Thanksgiving. I look back with fond memories of this time of the year growing up on Sussex. Spending hours raking leaves in the backyard and having them mixed together with rotten cherries and permenently staining your hands as you toss them into a garbage can.

Getting up at 6 AM Thanksgiving morning to deliver a newspaper that weighed 25 pounds each wile trying to avoid customers who wanted to pay you. Then getting hit over the head by a would-be thief because he thought that all paper boys had money (I never did... I never collected anything, but if I HAD money, I would have spent it on a Tastee Freeze shake.)

There I would be on a cold fall day, slumped over from the weight of my paper bag, slurping a shake that I held in my cherry stained hands, while looking over my shoulder to make certain some fool didn't mistake me for having money. BOY, DO I HATE FALL AND THANKSGIVING!!!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor, How's the family? Hey, the other day I had a brief, online chat with Chris, presumably from MSU. Too cool! -Hacking in GR

ED NOTE: Presumably? You know what happens when you presume. You make a priest out of you and... No, that's not it.... Nevermind.

Dear McCarty Metro, I am personally offended by the junvenile behavior of this web page. Heartland/Acres is a quiet on-line neighborhood with family values being first and foremost. Through your words and inuendos, you have brought down the value of my homestead. I would like to see you clean up your act, or move out. -Jim (a neighbor)

Ed Note: I am sincerely sorry about my conduct on this page. I posted a personal message to you to express my feelings. You can get the message here.

Dear Mr. Man- Several of us members of the MF Club (Margaret's Fan Club) wish to have her bell ringing gig schedule published. Signed - Ding Dongs

Ed Note: Dear Hostess Cupcakes All of you MF's will just have to wait for Margaret to get good and ready to ring her bell.... She is under a lot of stress at Mass, so unless you want to force the issue and accept the consequences, I would suggest that YOU DROP IT!!!!

Dear Ed - Do you know anyone that can remove auto glass chips from a car stereo and install it - perhaps Chris?

Ed Note: Ouch!!!! That one hurt. And by the way, my name is not Ed.

Dear Metro - Does Austins soccer team ever win? The game against Leader Dogs team was close. -Uncle in Shelby

Ed Note: Although Austin's season didn't go as well as expected, he did put some valuable end of the season information and statistics about his team on the web. You can access this info here.