Every November, casual conversations with friends include inquiries about their plans for Thanksgiving. The answers go one of two ways: they are looking forward to it, or they dread the upcoming day.
To many people, Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate with family with an abundance of great food including turkey and all the trimmings like mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rolls with butter and an array of pies and cakes They also cook and watch the parades together and of course, enjoy afternoon football games. Then, there’s more food and fun with perhaps a nap in between. Who among us hasn’t had an uncle or grandpa fall asleep without shame on the couch in the middle of all the happy chaos?
Regardless of how you choose to celebrate the big day, it’s important to remember we all have much to be thankful for which, after all, is the point.
These are the people with close-knit families, who actually like each other.
Then, there are those who dread the day—the people who can’t answer “yes” when asked, “If they weren’t family, would they be your friends?” Words like lazy (sit around waiting to be served and forget the dishes), drunken fool (there seems to be one loud-mouth drunk in every family) and nosy (the aunt or sister-in-law who boldly gets into your personal business like it was her job). Then, there is the medical professional (the one who has zero credentials in health care but is an expert on everything from a minor skin rash to cancer). In short, the ones you can’t wait until they go home and hopefully never see again until the next year.
Personally speaking, I fall somewhere in the middle of both groups. I love having my immediate family in my home, which includes my sons and daughter-in-law, grandma and a few others. It’s above-described agitators I can live without.
I am also afraid of the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Don’t get me wrong—I love turkey, stuffing and all the rest of it—but consumed in moderation. Did you know there are about 3,000 calories on the typical Thanksgiving dinner plate? That does not include dessert which can pack on another 300 to 600 calories!
I cringe when I see family members eat not one, but two loaded plates of food, and then go for pie and cake. This does not include beer, wine or soft drinks.
My dream is to one year host a “Friendsgiving” celebration to include my kids and a few of their good friends, and some of my friends and neighbors, especially those without family nearby. We could enjoy nice, juicy rib-eye steaks or prime rib (okay, maybe a small turkey), a variety of roasted veggies, baked potatoes, salads, a lovely charcuterie tray and a variety of little desserts.
Regardless of how you choose to celebrate the big day, it’s important to remember we all have much to be thankful for which, after all, is the point.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving!
