A Thanksgiving Tale

[originally written 11.26.25]

I thought everyone had cole slaw at Thanksgiving.

I really did.

It was always on our Thanksgiving table.

Turns out my mom started the cole slaw tradition because she was not a fan of most of the traditional holiday side dishes.

She didn't like the mushy-ness of Thanksgiving food.

So she added cole slaw to have something crunchy and fresh.

But I didn't know that.

So, come my first year in Rhode Island with my new husband's family I make cole slaw to bring along.

My husband gives me a "look" as I'm preparing my favorite holiday side dish, but says nothing. 

He likes that I'm kind of an odd duck.

We arrive at my mother-in-law's house that evening. I proudly set my dish of cole slaw on a dining room table that is already groaning under the weight of turkey, stuffing (my MIL's secret recipe), mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls, three kinds of cranberry sauce, gravy, and Nana's "Moldy Salad" (green jello with cottage cheese and pineapple.)

Everyone looks at my cole slaw.

And then they look at me.

As if I have five heads.

"What?" I ask. "It's the cole slaw."

No one says anything, but they continue to stare at my offering of shredded cabbage and carrots as if it is some alien intruder in the midst all the normal holiday food.

"Don't you have cole slaw at Thanksgiving?" I ask.

"Uhh, no."

"Oh, we always did. I thought everyone did."

They look at me again.

Pretty sure my husband and I are the only ones to eat any of my alien cole slaw that first year.

But as time has gone on, the cole slaw has been generally accepted as my contribution to Thanksgiving.

I think a few members of my husband's family actually eat it now. 

Though just a very little bit.