For those of us in the US of A it’s Thanksgiving Day. 

Let’s see. I guess I’m thankful that in 1980 I spied a notice for an obscure government test called the Professional and Administrative Career Examination or PACE. I took the test and it was a forgone conclusion that I’d do well as taking multiple choice tests is (or was) my superpower. Taking that test led to my being offered the job of Inventory Management Specialist with the federal government in Philadelphia, a job that I had no idea even existed until it was offered to me. At least career-wise my life took a distinct turn for the better after that.

Who knows what might have become of me if I hadn’t seen that notice?

I haven’t had a mince pie in years. I can’t remember the last time my mother might have made one, but I’d guess it’s close to 20 years ago.

I didn’t feel like making one myself, as it would have just been a matter of buying the mincemeat (as I wasn’t about to make mincemeat from scratch; have you seen the ingredients?) and adding it to a pie shell, so I went to Beiler’s at the Reading Terminal Market and bought one there.

Twenty bucks!?!?!

On second thought maybe I shoulda just bought the mincemeat and added it to a pie shell.

My grandmother used to make mincemeat when she and my grandfather still lived on the farm, but that was decades ago. I think I can still remember what her mincemeat used to taste like.

For those of you in the US of A, Happy Thanksgiving! And for those of you who reside elsewhere, have happy day as well!