In early 1998, we added a community outreach division here at the Fried Turkey Page. To spread knowledge and appreciation of fried turkeys, it is necessary to take the procedure on the road. We were encouraged by the success of the PBS television show "Antiques Roadshow" which has dramatically increased public knowledge of antiques through a television program where some pale goober tells Aunt Minnie that the ceramic frog she bought for $2.00 at a garage sale is worth $100.00 but she decides not to sell it because it's cute.
For our 1998 frying adventure, we packed the turkey-frying equipment into our Mobile Turkey-frying Command Center (a 1998 Saturn SL2) and took the production North to Jacksonville, FL. We selected Jacsonville after a competitive screening process wherein we considered applications from several major american cities. In the end, Jacksonville won because Rebecca's parents (my in-laws) live there and we had promised to spend Thanksgiving with them. Go figure.
If anything could convince your in-laws that you are deranged and dangerous, it has got to be firing up a 135,000 BTU propane burner then grunting like an ape. So I did it.
As the family gathered around the pot of oil, fear turned to fascination, which turned to awe, which turned to joy, which turned back into fear. We all bonded over a bubbling vat of oil and turkey. After removing the turkey, everyone went a little nuts and we wound up by throwing a wide range of food and non-food items into the oil to be fried and sampled.
I don't currently have the photos from this event. As soon as I do, they will be posted here.