Ding Dong the Turkey's Dead

Warning! For those of you opposed to meat-eating or are made queasy at the thought of turkey slaughter please avoid this post!

This Christmas marked my first ritual slaughter of a delicious bird. I've always eaten the bird, but I've never watched the process that happens before it arrives frozen to the grocer's. I headed down to the train station to procure the bird. We'd found the hardware/poultry alley aruond Thanksgiving time, so I knew where to go. I picked out the bird, it was weighed and we came to a price. After he cut his throat, he dumped him in a metal box. I imagine that's where he drained it of blood. Then, after it stopped thrashing in it's death throes, he picked it up and threw it into a rotating basket in another metal box filed with hot water. After this, he threw into a third box where it was spun in circles for a good little bit and every now and again a foot or two would pop out on it way around. Then the butcher spent some time plucking the remaining bits of feathers before ripping a couple holes in it to pull out the mess of organs. I tried to communicate that I'd like the head cut off, but he just smiled in a way that said "Silly foreigner, that's the best part!" Anyway, we exhanged funds and I drove off with the turkey carcass in a plastic bag gently perched between my feet. Turns out fresh is AWESOME! It was the best bird I've ever had, and I'm proud to say that it was my first attempt at a turkey! Yum. I'm not sure if I'd like to kil another bird, but it was definitely an adventure!