While the first “Thankmas” took place in December 2003, the turkey dinner tradition amongst the Rutgers swimmers can be traced back November of 1996 at 34 Robinson St. in New Brunswick, NJ. Back then, the Shop-Rite (aka Edwards) on Easton Ave. gave away free turkeys for those who spent a crap load on groceries. Richard S. Sumida achieved this milestone and offered up his turkey to his roommates at the Robinson Street domicile (current Thankmas attendees included Barry “Big Dog” Hughes, Matt “the Man” Tevald, Jason “the Gent” Coulter, and Jungbin “the Korean” Song. His first run at cooking a turkey yielded less than stellar results as several of us spent the next few hours on the toilet.

Over the years, the Turkey Dinner moved to different locations, such as Magnolia Street in Highland Park, Reler Lane in Somerset, and Garfield Ave. in Atlantic Highlands as recently as November 17th, 2002 (it was on a Sunday). Throughout the years, many new faces came and went, but the spirit remained the same – it was an opportunity for old friends to reunite for a night of turkey, beer, reflections, and good times.

In 2003, Larry Page and Tara (Valante) Page provided a more stable location (in other words, a house that is still upright) and these gatherings evolved into the “Thankmas” tradition you have now all grown to love. However, the first “Thankmas” was marred by a blizzard and many people were forced to bail out. One had to wait until his father would let him out of the house and faced instant ridicule upon his arrival. Attendees of Thankmas 2003 include Larry, Tara, Sumida, Brenda (and Colin), Tevald, Allison, Jason, Julie, Jenna, and Jung.

Jung’s eventual arrival was just the first of three Thankmas “miracles”. The second Thankmas miracle occurred when Peanut began eating off the kitchen counter and in Jung’s haste to stop him, broke the chair he was sitting on. The miracle was that after the seat was broken, Jung felt it necessary to sit on it again and fell on his ass. The third Thankmas miracle was that a candle burned through the top of the television set and was inside the TV. With her extensive knowledge of electronics, Tara (ironically born with the initials “TV”) was able to determine that the TV could work anyway and miraculously turned it on, with half the candle still sticking out of it. If I recall correctly, Larry Page almost busted his ass falling down the stairs or something. All in all, Thankmas 2003 was a smashing success.

In 2004, with manageable weather, the number of Thankmas attendees boomed. Despite his failed attempt at homemade gravy, Rich Sumida was named “Thankmas Nerd of the Year” and had a large poster made by Barry Hughes commemorating the selection.

Jen (Drogan) Zayle introduced us to her baby daughter Kaitlyn while Dan Volpi and Jenna Cohen made Ashley Page cry as they departed early. Anne Fletcher became a cornerstone to the Thankmas tradition and Kate Yelle attended her first Thankmas as well, as she bailed out the prior year due to the storm. Sergio Alonso Fernandez de Cordova joined us for dessert, bringing a half-eaten cake.

After dessert, now that Allison was married into the Rutgers Swimming network, she challenged Brenda to a pit. She boasted that Brenda would not be able to pin her within a minute, a challenge that Brenda would accept, thirsting for new blood. Proving critics and bookmakers wrong, Allison outlasted the formidable Brenda in the one and only Thankmas pit.

Alas, a new kitchen and a larger dining room welcomed us to Thankmas 2005. Though Jenna Cohen had promised that she wouldn’t leave early, by the time Jungbin Song arrives, she is gone and therefore missed seeing the Page’s prestigious award, the leg lamp from “A Christmas Story”. Lorelei Page graced us with her presence at her first Thankmas as she danced to “Jingle Bells”. Rich Sumida was not feeling well (perhaps due to the Ham and the Ham Sauce) and went to sleep early, only to be woken up by Sergio Alonso Fernandez de Cordova who decided to show up after midnight, thus missing out on Dance Revolution and most of Karaoke Revolution.

Thankmas 2006 saw the introduction of drinking games, such as Circle of Death. While Frank Coppa made an appearance, he left prior to the dinner and drinking, breaking a record shared by Jenna and Sergio for the shortest Thankmas stay.

That evening, 13th ranked Rutgers played 15th ranked West Virginia in their final regular-season football game of 2006 - a game that would determine whether RU would go to a BCS Bowl Game or a crappy bowl game that would be aired on a cable network that was not accessible to most New Jerseyans. Despite our prayers, they choked in triple overtime as a sure touchdown was dropped by one of their shitty Wide Receivers. After we lost, Karaoke Revolution once again ruled the rest of the night.

2007's rendition of Thankmas took place on Saturday, December 8th. An unprecedented 4 pregnant women were in attendance: Allison (Kehoe) Tevald, Anne Fletcher, Brenda (Amerman) Bowman, and Julie (Markowitz) Coulter. It appears the number of Thankmas attendees will grow exponentially for years to come. Also joining the festivities were the Pages, Tevald, C-Pas, Coultrane, Kate and O.J. (with a brief cameo from Mrs. Yelle and Kim), the Jay-Z's, J-Lo, Trich and Petie the Pug, Dan and Jenna Volpi, and Duffman. Sergio Alonso Fernandez de Cordova was in Miami or Los Angeles or Colombia or something, so we missed out on enjoying the half-eaten cake.

Unfortunately, 2007 saw a more mature and sensible Thankmas that did not include any drinking games (what's up with that?). But Tevald did bring a keg of his home brew to help us ring in the new Thankmas. Jung was so skilled in poker that a frustrated Volpi slammed his cards down in disgust, knocked back the couch into the table, which fell over, almost breaking the glass door.  Dont' worry, there was more than enough food (including garlic bread) where Barry was able to replenish the ass that he laughed off during the Volpi incident.

Before, during, and after dinner, C-Pas and John were glued to Guitar Hero before the masses came to take over the entertainment with some Karaoke Revolution. Chef Richie "BLEW" away the competition (see picture 64 of 68). All in all, it was one helluva Thankmas!

December 13th 2008... again hosted by Larry and Tara Page, babies, babies, and more babies gave Thankmas 2008 the largest turn out in recent memory.  It seems that Thankmas has now evolved into a massive play-date of 2nd generation Liz (Sueta) Blau disciples.  Kate Bowman is taking after her mother as Coulter could not even pry her beer away.  Tucker Tevald was all decked out in his Staten Island-style Puma sweats.  Kate, Tucker, and Abby Coulter were thrilled to attend their first Thankmas.  Truly, the adults took a back seat at this go-around of Thankmas. 

Thankmas 2008 also marked the return of the Ham Sauce. 

I think Barry forgot about Thankmas or something.  Fashionably late Sergio arrived just as everyone was leaving. 

Sorry, I don't remember what else happened or who else was there.