Happy Thanksgiving

November 24, 2022

The holidays are upon us, and there is so much emotion on the line. Of course, everyone wants there to be continual happiness, love, appreciation and gratitude for the four days they have together. But Thanksgiving is a time of high expectations, road rage, stop and go traffic and a lot of extra expenses. Families are on the move on highways, at airports, and at train or bus stations across the country. Everyone has a deadline, and everyone is in a hurry. Like I said emotions are clearly running wild. Then let us not forget about the shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating. and waiting for the guests by the hosts or hostesses. Wow, talk about emotions running wild. The guests are hand-picked and are mostly family members or maybe some close friends. It should be incredibly peaceful as each person arrives, but there are personalities involved. Everyone wants to be appreciated, but family issues seem to come out when everyone is together, and some people are bossing everyone else around which complicates things even more. Children are crying or running about with fathers and mothers chasing close behind. I know you have been in this situation or one like it sometime during your lifetime. Everyone gets together, and then after the welcoming hugs, kisses and hellos all around, slowly at first, but sooner or later everything might start to fall apart right before your eyes. Before you know it all you want to do is to escape into the comfort of your own reality, but this is a four-day commitment… you cannot leave. The volume goes up as the table is set and serving dishes are placed all around. Everyone is in their seats. The turkey has been carved, the prayer of Thanksgiving has been said but before the food can be passed or the first forkfuls of food reach the mouths of hungry people of all ages, there are already squabbles because Children are not known for their patience. If any two are sitting next to each other, watch out. It is very possible as a child reaches for a roll that a glass of water is going to tumble, and the tablecloth will be totally soaked near the tipped over glass. Parents are running into the kitchen to find rolls of paper towels to sop up as much water as possible, the culprit is crying, and the hostess is really upset. She had just seen her efforts for perfection dashed. Everything is all messed up. No pun intended. Other children are now reaching for their own rolls as the adults are busy trying to get things back to the way it was before “the flood”. Possibly the answer is to let the children have their own table, or at least invite them to the adult table when their plates of food are in front of them including the rolls. Children will probably be happier if you let them take out their phones with their games to keep them occupied until it is time to actually eat. Everyone does not have to arrive at the table at the same time. Everything soon settles down, and the food is of course delicious. Dinner is done and the men are watching football and hooting and hollering for their favorite teams. The boys are throwing balls around in the yard, and girls get together to do something girls like to do. The women all get together to clean up and put leftover food into the refrigerator. There will be time for dessert and coffee later. After everything is done in the kitchen, the women sit down at the table and talk about the day and the family. the consensus is It was a great day. A bit crazy, but great. The actual time of food consumption was very short compared to the preparation and the time spent getting the family home to sit down at the table together. Don’t sweat it. Be happy. This is your family. These are your friends. Enjoy them. Be grateful these people are part of your life. Someday, you will be looking back and remembering this day and the way it used to be. Do your part to make it the best Thanksgiving ever. Enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving. Sending my love to you all.

Granny-o