Thanksgiving Memories Goralka Sacramento Estate thanksgiving

by John M. Goralka
Sacramento, CA

I am from a family of nine (9) children, five (5) brothers and three (3) sisters. Thanksgiving was never quiet and never boring. What makes Thanksgiving special to me is that the focus is on spending the time with family. As I grew older and left for college, and then later began a life on my own, the opportunity to spend the time with my parents and siblings was precious.

With so many kids, my mom did not typically focus on fancy gourmet meals. We would have turkey, roast beef, mashed potatoes and always green bean salad topped with a crunch fried onion (you will find that recipe on the back of a Campbell’s creamy mushroom soup can).  My daughter always felt that any party was incomplete without spinach dip. 

Amazing Beef Wellington

One year, while I was a pre-teen, my mom made beef wellington. Roast beef inside a pastry shell with pate. That was the most amazing meal I have ever had. Decades later, when hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my home, I made individual beef wellingtons. I used filet mignon (some with pate, some with blue cheese) wrapped in prosciutto and then a puff pastry shell. These truly are delicious and pair well with your favorite red wine. I still think of my mom whenever I prepare this meal. The recipe can be found here.  

Thanksgiving was an all-day potluck affair. There was always way more food than we could eat at that time. Spending time in my room in the house that I grew up in was always a unique, special feeling… – until I came home from college one Thanksgiving to discover that my brother Mark had taken over and redecorated my room. 

Soccer Tournaments

I never, ever missed a Thanksgiving celebration until I was in my fifties with kids of my own. Both of my kids played competitive soccer. For whatever reason, major soccer tournaments were held over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I was very reluctant to go because I felt that the family celebration was so very important. Nevertheless, I took my daughter with her team to San Diego. This began a new chapter where Thanksgiving family dinners were replaced with a variety of soccer tournaments: Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament (San Diego), Surf Cup/Thanksgiving Tournament (San Diego), Irvine Soccer Academy Tournaments, Disney Soccer Shower Tournament (Disneyland).

Disneyland Thanksgiving

One year, after a tournament in Irvine with my daughter, we visited Disneyland with free passes from some of the parents. For whatever reason, the park was almost empty. No lines for any rides or activities. The park was decorated for Christmas. Disneyland was an awesome experience without any lines.

We were lucky because the kids and the parents of both my daughter’s team and my son’s team got along pretty well. A new set of memories and friends developed. My kids both continued to play club and tournament soccer until they left college at around eighteen (18) years of age. I sometimes still wonder if I made the right choice in missing family celebrations…

Wishing you and yours all the best for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

I hope you enjoy some of my family photos of Thanksgiving memories below.

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Goralka Sacramento Estate Tax Attorney Lawyer Goralka Sacramento Estate Tax Attorney Lawyer

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John Goralka is the lead attorney and founder of the Goralka Law Firm, P.C., and is an experienced Sacramento estate planning and tax planning lawyer.
For help in Sacramento with estate planning or tax planning, please contact our office.

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