Thanksgiving 1981

Most of the time, we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. And most of the time, we have the same meal – turkey, cranberry sauce, dressing, potatoes sweet and/or white along with whatever are the side dish traditions in our individual families. If you live long enough, the dinners all blend together; you can't remember one from another.

Except on occasions when something different happens.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan was in the first year of his presidency, and he agreed to an hour-long interview for The Barbara Walters Specials that year to be broadcast on Thanksgiving night. Perhaps you saw it.

We taped the interview at his ranch near Santa Barbara, California, on Tuesday morning, then hightailed it back to Los Angeles where we spent the next two days, without a break, editing the show for Thursday night. We finished in the wee hours of Thanksgiving morning and I dropped into bed at the hotel at around 4AM.

In the very late morning, as I ordered up coffee and a newspaper, I remembered it was Thanksgiving. Damn. I had plenty of friends in L.A., but in the race to have the show ready for broadcast, I had forgotten to make arrangements for dinner. Now I felt foolish calling anyone to beg for a place at their table. So I didn't. And anyway, I was still tired.

It's commonplace nowadays for television stations to run marathons of popular programs on holidays, but that wasn't so yet in 1981. So I was delighted when I noticed in the paper that a local channel was broadcasting back-to-back Twilight Zone episodes and that, I decided, was a fine way to spend Thanksgiving away from home.

I ordered a fruit and cheese platter with a bottle of wine from room service and hunkered down for day of private indulgence.

Late in the afternoon, Barbara's assistant, M, phoned. She too had not made plans and asked if I was free to join her for dinner in the restaurant downstairs. Since I was still tired and now a bit drunk, it seemed like a fine idea that involved no more travel than an elevator ride and we could be back to our rooms in time to watch the broadcast.

I wasn't surprised, when we stepped into the dining room, to see that it was half empty. I was surprised, however, to see half a dozen movie and television stars scattered at tables around the room. Thanksgiving is a family holiday and I wouldn't expect celebrities to be eating in a hotel dining room even if it was one of the most elegant in the world.

Although there were plenty available tables, M and I were seated in the back near the door to the rest rooms. I was too tired to object, so we ordered a bottle wine and contemplated dinner. Before the menus had been delivered, I noticed Barbara at the front of the room apparently looking for someone.

We waved and she joined us. Her car wasn't due to arrive for another 30 minutes, she said, so she wanted to have a celebratory drink with us.

The maitre 'd and some other employees created a minor frenzy. We three were conducted to what was, obviously, the premier table in the center of the room, and then these men hovered solicitously making sure everything was to our – well, Barbara's – liking.

Half an hour later, Barbara excused herself to go to her dinner at the home of friends and we could see the disappointment on the faces of our waiter and the maitre 'd. But there was nothing they could do; they were stuck with two nobodies center stage, as it were.

M and I laughed throughout dinner thoroughly enjoying the restaurant staff's chagrin. And we've continued to laugh every now and then when we recall that Thanksgiving nearly 30 years ago when we were stuck in Los Angeles far away from home.

---

At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Dani Ferguson: The Honeymooners

Comments

[doctafill]

Happy Thanksgiving, Ronni. I love your flashback stories.

[mary jamison]

What a blast!

[chancy]

That is too sweet. I am glad Babara showed up so you two got moved to a decent table. At times I may have had to much to drink before dinner at a restaurant but I have NEVER been too tipsy to protest a bad table.

Cheers.

[Cop Car]

Some of us have never dined in such an elegant hotel; but, we can still enjoy your recounting of that particular experience. Glad it worked out for you!

[Claire Jean]

What fun!

[millie garfield]

What a great flashback! From the way you wrote about your experience I could just see where you were seated and than upgraded because of Barbara.

Wonderful!

[la pergrina]

Happy Thanksgiving, Ronni, a wonderful story.

I remember when women eating alone were consider suspect. Whenever my mother was led to a table in the back near the rest rooms or the kitchen she would ask, "Am I being punished?"
If that would not get her moved to a better table she would demand one. She taught me well. :)

[Mage B]

I'm just sitting here grinning. Those waiters didn't know a good thing when they saw it. Thanks for gifting us with this story.

[kenju]

That's a great story!! Wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that one!

[Kay Dennison]

Excellent memory!!! Gotta love it!!!!!

[Travelinoma]

At our table we go around telling memories of Thanksgivings long ago. You would have fit right in and won the prize for the best memory. My grandkids always say, "Tell a REAL story! Is this one TRUE?" You're invited next year!

[joared]

I'm glad you told this story, 'cause I think it's hilarious. I can envision the whole scene, including the consternation of the restaurant staff once Barbara left. Wonder if anyone new entering the room after that would have wondered who you and M. were to deserve such prime seating?

If you have any more of these tales to share, I know I find them fun to enjoy.

[Nikki]

Fun story!!

[Beverly Dixon]

Wonderful.....I am sure I saw the show.