Chapter 48: Have you ever invented your own holiday tradition?
Originally written November 15, 2021
Invented a holiday? As a matter of fact, I have. Or at least co-invented one.
It was in November of 2013. I was going to Austin to spend Thanksgiving with Molly and her boys. And I think my brother Jack also was going to be out of town.
This would be the first Thanksgiving since my Mom died (in February of that year). So the holiday was destined to be different. But the rest of the family still living in New Mexico still wanted to get together in some form for some sort of holiday gathering.
Jack and I came up with the idea of having something the week before Thanksgiving — and something where none of us would be responsible for cooking.
With Anton and my niece Lauren living in Albuquerque we thought it would be good idea to hold this someplace about halfway between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Jack already was a fan of the diner connected to the convenience store and gas station near what was then known as Casino Hollywood at San Felipe Pueblo. (The casino’s name has since been changed to “Black Mesa Casino,” while the nearby restaurant/ convenience store / gas station is now called “Black Mesa Travel Center.”)
So Jack, Anton, Lauren, Lauren’s husband Justin (actually, they weren’t yet married then), Anton’s girlfriend Susana and I went to San Felipe to gather together and ask the Lord’s blessing. ( My sister Mary couldn’t make it that year.)
And it was truly fun, without the usual stress of usual holiday gatherings. And Jack was right about this unassuming roadside restaurant having some of the greatest New Mexican food known to humanity.
And so by the time November rolled around again in 2014, I said — or maybe Jack said — let’s do it again. Whoever said it, we all agreed. Again, a fantastic meal with loved ones. And I dubbed it “Truckstop Thanksgiving.”
And since then, we’ve gone back every year, with the exception of the plague year of 2020.
Music break! Any truckstop cuties wanna join us?
Lauren, Justin and I have been the common participants every year at Truckstop Thanksgiving. Anton moved to Austin in 2015 and he broke up with Susana sometime before then. Mary has joined us every year beginning in 2015. And others have joined us as well. [Note from 2024: Jack couldn’t make it in 2023.]
In 2017, Molly, her then-husband Dan and her kids Gideon and Clive were in town that week, so they all went.
My old friend Suzanne Deats showed up in 2018.
Then in 2019 we were joined by Carole Kay (first time I ever brought a date to Truckstop Thanksgiving) and our old friend Al Faaet. [Note from 2024: This year our old pal Alec joined us.]
During all of our Truckstop Thanksgivings, I don’t believe any of us have ever ordered a single dish with any turkey in it. I’m not even sure there are any entrees with turkey at Black Mesa.
I normally order the Southwestern Fried Steak, which is a basic chicken-fried steak smothered in white gravy and green and red chile. It’s delicious and it’s huge. Every so often, when traveling to or from Albuquerque, I’ll stop there and have a Southwestern Fried Steak, which comes with two (!) sopaipillas as well as pinto beans and Spanish rice.
For the first time in two years, various family and friends will be celebrating Truckstop Thanksgiving again this week. These days it’s truly the start of my holiday season.
More updates from 2024: We’ve continued this wonderful tradition every year since I wrote this. But, a couple of times since then, because of troubles beyond our control, we’ve held Truckstop Thanksgiving at non-Truckstop locations: La Choza in Santa Fe in 2022, and The Range in Bernalillo.
Great food at both places, but as a co-inventor of the tradition, I’m a traditionalist, so I always miss Black Mesa when we do this.
Here’s a little Thanksgiving tune from Loudon Wainwright III
Truckstop Thanksgiving, what a cool name! I must agree, the food at the Black Mesa is SOOO good. The fluffiest tortillas around, just like my Grandpa Ortega used to make!