Most Memorable Thanksgivings

We were living at 2017 Stanton Street, Cleveland Heights, Ohio and were planning to go to Saginaw, Michigan for Thanksgivings Day. The year was either 1981 or 1982. The day we were to drive to Saginaw a huge snow storm hit the area and we decided it was best to stay home but we had nothing planned for dinner. Thanksgivings without turkey? Frozen turkeys would never thaw in time and the stores were sold out of fresh turkeys. Mom started searching for places where fresh birds could be purchased like a farm. Unfortunately, the turkey farms she contacted had already sold all their turkeys. Then somewhere she read or heard about a place in Cleveland where turkeys were kept right in the city. It was in the yellow pages under turkeys. The whole family climbed into the car and we followed the map which lead to an industrial area with no signs of turkey life. We found the address, parked and walked into a nondescript door front. What lay behind the door could never be imagined. There was a small, unfurnished store front room which lead to an open space where people were picking their turkeys from birds that were roaming around a type of corral. The turkeys were all white very different from the wild turkeys we are used to seeing in pictures. We chose our turkey and while we paid, the turkey was prepared on the spot, if you know what I mean. Whenever, I go to the store to purchase a turkey, I think of that Thanksgivings Day meal with appreciation for then and for the ease now of purchasing a plump bird for the special day of Thanksgivings.