Christmas Turkey

If you look on my pics, you'll see the images of my Christmas turkey, from raw to cooked.  It's crazy, but don't you get nervous making that bird?  Making sure there is enough seasoning, that it's not undercooked, not overcooked, that it doesn't get burnt.  Man!!  Lucky for me, lady luck is always on my side, and mine turn out just fine.  But this year was the first year in about two that I actually made the turkey from frozen.   I've been doing smoked turkeys (from Publix--they taste JUST LIKE HAM), and fried turkeys, so needless to say, I was a little out of practice.  Honestly, my plan was to do a smoked turkey and a fried turkey.  But when I got to the big Pub, they were out.  OUT!  How are you out on smoked turkeys, two days before Christmas?  It's not like I waited till the last minute.  Geez.  Anyway, I was relegated to a frozen turkey.  I just picked one.  Not paying attention even.  To this moment, I still don't know the exact weight.  But, I'm sure of the size: big.  Ok, so I'm going crazy on the inside, trying to figure out what am I going to do with this bird.  When I brought it home, my husband said, "I'm pretty sure that's the biggest turkey I've ever seen." My admin gave me the great idea to defrost in the sink; that was helpful.  And then, it started coming back to me.  The butter, the herbs, the marinade.  I just needed a moment to stop panicking, and to think back.  I know how to do this; I've been doing it for years (except the last two, of course).  My brain starts working, and my body follows.  My hands start massaging the turkey with the butter, spices, etc.  Ok, I'm not trying to sound creepy, but just follow me.  Our bodies do whatever our minds tell them to.  We freak out and get crazy over things that literally come naturally.  Think about it, about what you do every day.  If you're a salesperson, how many sales calls make you nervous, even if you've been doing them forever?  I have friends who are surgeons that say they get nervous before every surgery.  Even though they perform the same surgery day after day.  Now, some would say a little nervousness is good.  It breeds uncomfortability, (is that a word) keeps us on our toes.  I agree.  However, it shouldn't be so much that it throws us off our game, especially when our game is good!  Right?  Be confident in your lane, your space.  If it's yours, know that your brain knows that, and let your body act accordingly.  If it's your space, nothing can keep you from success.  Whether it's your career, your kids, or your Christmas turkey.  If you know how to do it, then do it.  And if you don't?  Well, that's another post altogether.  I'll name that one "Being the Expert," or something like that.  So, EOS--the turkey was perfect.  Hooo-ahhh!  (That's Pacino, Scent of a Woman).  So juicy, moist, with crispy brown skin!  +1 for Michelle.  Note to Publix: there's only one thing wrong with your whole smoked turkeys: there's not enough of them!  Stock more for Christmas.  At least in Atlanta.  Note to whoever is reading this: Merry Christmas!  Talk soon.

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