Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a familiar tradition for most of us.

Growing up, I would watch it while the smell of roasting turkey filled the house.

The Rockettes were the only thing that mattered to me.

After all, I was determined to dance on Broadway and maybe even be a Rockette.

I already knew I could kick as high, I just prayed I'd make the height requirement.

The mesmerizing, beautiful dancing women usually kicked right before

Santa made his way down Herald Square.

After that it was time to help out.

My contribution to the dinner was making the relish tray.

Carrots, celery, pickles and olives.

I hate olives.

I hated the relish tray.

There was nothing to relish about it.

My fingers smelled like pickle juice the whole day.

The main course was handled by my Dad.

He was obsessed that everything must be served hot.

When the turkey first came out of the oven, he began to mash the potatoes.

It was like watching an olympic athlete beat his personal best mashing time.

Keep in mind it was a hand-held, old fashioned masher that had a painted red handle.

I'm sure I swallowed some paint chips disguised by gravy.

He would be sweating from his gold-medal mashing technique.

I saw sweat beads fall into the potato pot....

they always were on the salty side.

Somehow, everything got onto the crowded table, piping hot.

The table had five extra leaves in it, leaving the four supporting legs, well, unstable.

Getting into and out of your chair required complete concentration, as to not

jiggle the table and disturb full glasses of milk or the gravy boat.

So much spilled milk, spilled gravy and rolling olives off the relish tray.

Thankfully, as an adult, my contribution evolved to

preparing the deviled eggs.

The smell of cooked yokes overtook everything in the house and the fridge.

Certainly a much better smell than sour pickle juice.

This tradition has led me to acquiring some pretty fancy deviled egg platters and

a two-tiered, plastic egg transporter that delivers unsmashed,

perfectly paprika'd beauties to holiday parties.

I'm known for it, it's expected, and I like it!

It's my tradition.

My dream of going to New York and dancing on Broadway manifested!!

From 1989-1992 I would be in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.

I was cast as a New Yorker, one of the singer/dancers in the show.

Even though I wasn't a Rockette,

I was sharing the same stage with the iconic, mesmerizing, beautiful dancing women

I had watched every Thanksgiving morning.

It was an incredible experience and proof that if you believe it, you will receive it!

So today, Thanksgiving 2024, even though many family traditions have dissolved,

like the relish tray,

I'm grateful for all the memories,

all the past traditions,

and all the smells.