I Still Love ABBA - or Thanksgiving Wine Leads to a Good Time

I love Thanksgiving. F’n love it!

As the weather cools, and I may have to bust out a turtleneck, I am always reminded of the fun Thanksgiving was for me and my friend Janet.

Janet lived with my mom and me when I worked at the diner. Janet also worked there and she needed a place to stay, so in order to save my mom some cash, Janet became a roommate (one of the best things that could have happened in my life).

Let me describe her for you. She was a vivacious (still is), full figured, curvy girl with a cutting sense of humor. What I forgot to mention is that she could have been Kathy Najimi’s twin sister (the nun from Sister Act).

Janet and I were holy terrors at work with our biting banter and brutal comments. We loved each other dearly (sniffle sniffle)…

We used to hit all the gay spots in town and get rip roaring drunk until we danced it off, ending up at home in the wee hours. We rocked! She would give out autographs, because everyone wanted a piece of paper with “Kathy’s” signature.

The holidays were our favorite time…We had a routine…

First, we would go in 50/50 on a “keg” of wine, which would be half gone before dinner at 3 (Mom liked to eat early).

Janet and I would enact our improvised stand-up routines during the feasting, making everyone laugh and shake their heads.

After dinner we would help clean up (still drinking…I might add) and sit, visiting with family & friends until the bottle was gone.

Now that we were feeling fine, and it was around 7 pm, we would take our disco naps. Refreshed and invigorated, the getting ready would begin. Janet would pop in the ever-classic ABBA Gold, and showers would be had.

We would hit the town on Thanksgiving night with fervor only those who have spent the day with their families would understand. Janet would sign autographs while blessing people, and I would make out with the hotties that I met.

The next day would be brutal in the hangover department, and we would head to the diner to work our shifts and reminisce about the previous night!

To this day, whenever I hear ABBA, I think of my Rosie (Janet) and swear that I can smell turkey cooking.

Love you J! Miss you more than you could know.