keep your fork...

so, it's turkey weekend and i thought maybe i should write something that was thanksgiving weekendesque..

in our family we always say "keep your fork duke, we're havin' pie", even if we're not having pie. often it's between the salad and main course 'cause we're not so much with the desserts in my family (well, except the pumpkin pie at thanksgiving dinner, in which case the pie reference is generally bang on). anyway, there's a good chance you know this saying already, but it's a fun one and it's origins have always made me giggle.

years ago, on a royal tour of canada, the queen and her hubby were in some rural place. i don't know which one, i've heard somewhere in saskatchewan, i've also heard somewhere in the yukon, i'm sure i could research it and find out for sure, but really, i don't care that much. anyway, they were somewhere for a royal visit and state dinner (i've heard stuff like the local lion's club, but as we've already established with the previous statement, details are not my strong suite in this particular story). anyway, as they were clearing the table the prince had put his fork on his plate and a waitress reached down, put it on the table and said: "Keep your fork, Duke, there's pie."

and the image of that has amused me for years. and years. and years. i think my mum first told me when i was 5 or 6. the reasons it's funny have changed as i have gotten older. the symbolism changes as i get older. but it is still one of my favourites.

so this sunday when serving thanksgiving dinner to john's family, you can bet your ass i'm gonna say "keep your fork duke, we're havin' pie".