| Pia Morelli loves Thanksgiving. It is the one holiday | | | | because it was a given that BC would still be alive |
| of the year that the Mendham mother of eight | | | | in the playoffs and would have just played the |
| and grandmother of eighteen sees her entire | | | | Saturday before. I think we had to wait until |
| family. Not even Christmas brings as many people | | | | Saturday and it usually meant that Ridgewood |
| to her home at one time."My children are | | | | was massacred."At this point in the season, |
| scattered up and down the east coast. Between | | | | Ridgewood is still alive in the playoffs with a |
| flying in and driving over, they need several days | | | | scheduled meeting against Morristown on |
| to make the trip, visit, and to return to their | | | | December 6th at Giants Stadium. "I know that |
| homes. I would love to have everyone here for | | | | Ridgewood just had a big battle with Hackensack |
| Christmas, but that just doesn't happen, especially | | | | on Saturday, but I think they'll be ready. Funny |
| when the holiday falls during the middle of the | | | | thing, I think this is one Ridgewood team that |
| week and people are unable to take extended | | | | could beat BC!" After the game, McGathry will be |
| time off from their jobs."Since her husband, Joe, | | | | going to his mother-in-law's house in Paramus. "My |
| died in 1995 Thanksgiving has taken on an added | | | | wife graduated from Paramus a year after I |
| meaning. "Prior to Joe's death we would get | | | | graduated from Ridgewood. She isn't much of a |
| together, but not under one roof or at the same | | | | football fan and stays home with our youngest. |
| time. We would see some of the children at | | | | Fortunately, the rivalry isn't dividing our family," he |
| Thanksgiving and the rest at Christmas or get | | | | noted.Anne Chomesky doesn't "do" Thanksgiving |
| together between the holidays. It wasn't the | | | | at least in the traditional sense. For years the |
| same. Joe died suddenly and unexpectedly and | | | | single 40-something woman served food at a |
| each of my children have insisted on this annual | | | | soup kitchen in Newark every Thanksgiving day. |
| reunion. What better time than | | | | This year she will still be serving, but over at a |
| Thanksgiving?"While her family members would | | | | friend's house in Cedar Grove. Her friend, Clare, |
| prefer to go out to eat, Pia insists otherwise. "I'm | | | | lost her father, who was her only living relative, |
| retired, living with Cocoa [her terrier] and have | | | | this past Summer and Anne felt that she could be |
| plenty of time on my hands. I start baking my | | | | more useful spending the time with her. "The |
| pies on Sunday and by Wednesday the gravy, | | | | holiday season is very difficult for those without |
| mashed potatoes, cole slaw, and green bean salad | | | | family. Clare's father died in June and he was all |
| are done. On Thanksgiving morning, my daughter, | | | | that she had as far as family goes. Eight of us |
| Lisa, comes over and puts two turkeys in the | | | | who either no longer have family or can't be with |
| oven. Joe Jr. and his wife bring the hams, while | | | | them will be gathering together at Clare's home to |
| the stuffing and other fixings are completed by | | | | keep her company and to give thanks for what |
| me in the morning. All the setting up, serving and | | | | we do have. I thank God for this opportunity to |
| cleaning up is done by the children. I kick back and | | | | be with friends who have become like family to |
| watch football while eating pumpkin pie!"Kyle | | | | me."However, wherever and with whomever you |
| McGathry will be continuing a tradition that has | | | | choose to spend the day, Happy Thanksgiving to |
| been going on in his family for nearly 50 years. | | | | all!This article originally appeared on |
| With sons Kevin and Michael in tow, McGathry will | | | | Townstead.com, a defunct site managed by Matt |
| be sitting in the stands watching a high school | | | | Keegan. It was part of his "Life in New Jersey" |
| football game between Ridgewood and Paramus. | | | | series of articles.Matthew Keegan is the owner of |
| "When I was a kid, it was Ridgewood-Fair Lawn. | | | | a successful article writing, web design, and |
| Years later Paramus replaced Fair Lawn and for | | | | marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. |
| awhile it was Bergen Catholic and Ridgewood." | | | | He manages several sites including the Corporate |
| The Ridgewood native looked at the Ridgewood- | | | | Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation |
| BC rivalry as hopelessly one sided. "Most of the | | | | Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer |
| games were never played on Thanksgiving | | | | to review selections from his portfolio. |