Fifty-six years ago in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Millers and the Karns started a family tradition that still continues on today!  The first one started with 11 people, nine are still alive today, and has grown to over 80 family members.  My grandfather and Uncle Fred are with us this year in our memories.

Thanksgiving day was usually spent at Aunt Gloria’s house, then a few years ago we went Aunt Vera’s house and today we are at my cousin’s Becky’s home. Every other year, as we converged on Pittsburgh, the traditions expanded to include deep fried turkeys and gourmet cupcakes. Each time we took family pictures before our huge feast consisting of many cooked turkeys and stuffing. After dinner we have dessert  while listening to my grandma Rosalie play holiday music on the piano. The day after is purely hard labor as we go to Aunt Gloria’s house to build our 30-foot high bonfire.  This tradition used to happen on Thanksgiving day, but we moved it to the Friday night six years ago.  This is no ordinary bonfire – we take all the brush and dead trees from the land and stack them as high as we can.  This year we have permission from the town to have this giant fire continue and therefore our bonfire tradition.

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