This Week in Clarkstown

By Matt Veronesi Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Growing up, Thanksgiving was a pretty big deal in my family. We would regularly have 50 or more people gathered around for Thanksgiving dinner, and everyone pitched in. Some would prepare food, others would bring desserts or drinks, and there were always plenty of people helping with the dishes and cleaning up afterward. It was truly a family affair, and I loved every minute of it. I was extremely fortunate to grow up in a very close-knit family. All of my cousins were not only family but also some of my best friends. What made our family even more special was that my mother’s side of the family and my father’s side of the family were just as close to each other. Aunts, uncles, and cousins from both sides considered one another family, even though they weren’t actually related. There was never a distinction between one side of the family and the other. We were simply one big, happy family.

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