The year 2020 meant a different sort of Thanksgiving for many of us, one that should lead to an appreciation for the family spirit that marks the occasion.

Normally there are at least two places I could go, either my sister’s house in the Omaha area or my uncle’s house in the Twin Cities. This year, however, neither place was having the traditional big gathering. Instead it was a stay at home year to guard against the pandemic.

So I had to decide what to make myself for a Thanksgiving meal. It was not going to be an all-day effort, not for just myself.

I decided to improvise. Chicken breasts took the place of turkey. Instant stuffing filled the role usually given to traditional dressing. The green beans didn’t have all the casserole ingredients. Gravy came from a jar.

It still wasn’t bad. The result was an approximation of what the traditional feast looks like and tastes like. I made plenty, enough so I didn’t have to eat again later.

The most important part of the day happened next. It was when I called several relatives and shared a few minutes of their small gatherings from a distance.

An even bigger highlight involved stopping outside my mom’s first floor assisted living window with my cell phone to have an in-person conversation.

Those moments instilled in me a deeper appreciation for the large family gatherings of the past. They’ve been more than just a holiday ritual. They’re also a way for families to come together for a short amount of time out of a busy weekly and monthly schedule to just eat, watch the Macy’s parade and football, and stay up to date on all that happens.

It wouldn’t be a special occasion without all the food. It’s a time of the year when spending an entire day in the kitchen is normal. It’s expected. It’s rewarding when it all comes together.

Besides cooking traditions like my grandmother’s recipe for dressing, I was reminded of holiday baking. My mom baked spritz sugar cookies with frosting every year. We also had a special recipe for snack mix, one that was used for the holidays as well as other times of the year.

I’m not sure how much I’ll imitate those family traditions. I think I might start with the snack mix. I thought about it earlier this year when I bought some that were on sale at the store. The regular price for a fairly small hand-sized bag is more than three dollars. My mom used to make big roasting pans filled with snack mix. It even included mixed nuts, which are not part of the store recipe. It’s something I could manage.

It’s great that in an age of convenience food and eating on the run we still find a little holiday time for all the cooking and baking traditions that were a regular part of life in past generations. We also take the time to gather at tables for a lengthy meal.

The year 2020 is an interuption for many. I think, however, that it’s only an interruption. Holiday recipes are too established, and too delicious, to completely disappear.