I was all set to totally blow off Thanksgiving, this year, but then I was thrown a curve ball

[Siwsan]

My well known "Achilles Heel" is that I love to cook and bake, and that I'm pretty good at it. So a decision was made that I have moped around long enough so I should make the dinner, this year. And to accommodate this, other people actually changed their plans in advance of letting me know they'll be coming over.

Most of my family is either out of the area or recently deceased, so it's not as if they were expecting me to host a crowd. There will just be five of us. But it will be five wonderful people.

Having to suddenly plan out a menu, purchase the groceries and clean the house has really snapped me out of a bad state of depressed lethargy. And it will be the first Thanksgiving I've hosted in my house.

[monmouth4]

1. Sounds lovely and you all will enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving Siwsan..n/t

[Siwsan]

4. Yea - my family and friends are pretty amazing

It is so nice to have something to look forward to, again.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!

[malaise]

2. Enjoy

Cleaning and cooking are great for us.

[Siwsan]

6. Hi Malaise!

I have been looking for people I've missed, during our "down time". You were definitely on that list!

[malaise]

7. Back at you sis

[Lochloosa]

10. Same here

[malaise]

17. Hi there

[smirkymonkey]

3. That is great for you! I hope you have a wonderful time!

I love to cook as well, but I live in a small studio in the city so I can't really accommodate much of a crowd. My whole immediate family and their children will be going to Baltimore again this year, but unfortunately we just found out that my beloved brother is being deployed to Iraq next week so he and his family will not be joining us this year.

I am very sad and worried, but trying to look on the bright side. The Dem/Republican ratio is evened out now in the family and I will get a better bedroom! Seriously, though, I just hope he comes back safe and sound.

[Siwsan]

9. I once hosted about 8 British sailors to a Thanksgiving dinner, in my tiny apartment

I was stationed in Philadelphia and lived in a small one bedroom, between Center City and the base. The HMS Illustrious pulled in for some work, on their way back from the Falklands, and they asked for people to host a sailor for dinner and somehow I ended up with quite a crowd. It was one of the best Thanksgivings I've ever experienced.

Ok, I ended up with that many because I had been out pub crawling with them, for most of the week.

[smirkymonkey]

11. Sounds like fun! One of the best Thanksgivings I have ever had is when I had a decent sized

one BR where I could host a group of 8 "orphans". No drama, no stress, just a great time had by all. Have a great Thanksgiving!

[cilla4progress]

5. Really nice, so happy for you!

My story not so happy.

We always spend Thanksgiving with my husband's mother, now 88, a strong Hillary supporter, and one of my husband's sisters and her family (husband, son and kids). They are right-wing fundies.

Every Thanksgiving we dutifully hold hands while they pray and we go along with it. We are essentially atheist pagan humanists. But in the spirit of family love, we go along.

Some years, when dinner is at the sister's home, we don't get to drink wine with dinner. Even when we (I) carefully select a bottle tuned to mother-in-law's specific tastes...white, not too sweet, not too tart (the first time this happened I was caught off guard. I was so pissed off I slugged a couple mouthfuls before heading over there. I really hoped my breath smelled of it.)

We knew they were Republicans, based solely on issues of sexual repression: gays, abortion, transgender rights. We weren't certain if they were Trumpsters. Mother-in-law has stated numerous times she doesn't want to know because sister is the branch of the family that stayed around and support her, take her to doctor's appointments, etc. They are truly "nice" people (like the Nazis were nice).

Well...it came out that sure enough they are Trumpsters. So....this year, of all years, we decided we just can't bear to go over there and pray with them. Not gonna do it.

So it will be just hubby and me, our grown daughter having now flown the coop. At least she doesn't have to witness this sorrowful state. We are going to pretend we are sick or something. We don't want to upset anyone. We will have a quiet dinner here. Kind of a sign of times to come, since our daughter is just post-college ... our only child.

Sad because Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, for the spirit it embodies. Of course, as an atheist pagan humanist I am not thanking god per se, but there is much to have gratitude for. Much of which is slipping away.

On the upside, we will spend the day with our animal family: horses, dog, cat, chickens. They will appreciate having us around. We will fill the house with good turkey smells, get in a walk and some time out in nature. Wait for the day in the hoped for not too distant future when once again peace and humanity will reign, good people will come to their senses, the earth will be set right, and perhaps there will once again be the sound of happy children in our home at Thanksgiving.

Have a wonderful time, Siwsan!

[Siwsan]

12. I'd never have agreed to do this, if I wasn't going to be surrounded by this particular group

We were all strong Bernie supporters who went on to support and vote for Hillary. Two of my guests were first time voters and they are crushed. I promised to tell the tale of my first time voting, for George McGovern.

I'm wish I could bring you all over to my place!!!!!

[MFM008]

8. Good for you

I always say whatever works.
I just had gastric bypass surgery so I'll suck turkey through a straw.
Good luck with your dinner.

[mnhtnbb]

13. Have fun hosting your friends!

Both my sons and their partners will be coming here for Thanksgiving this year. Last year my youngest son had to work the day after Thanksgiving as part of his
work-study financial aid in grad school, so he didn't come home. This year he will be here.

My oldest son and his partner are seriously thinking about getting out of the south.
My husband and I are toying with the idea of moving to Hawaii (Kauai) and haven't yet decided whether to really investigate it as a possibility.
I joked last spring that if Trump won, he'd better be ready to go take a look. Last Friday I had flights, times, places to stay lined up; the next day I thought
it was crazy. Now as I see the Cabinet members being named, I think it's not so crazy.

This could turn out to be our last Thanksgiving together. Who knows?

[Siwsan]

16. I just wish more of my family was here

All that's left of my immediate family, in the area, is my brother, who is my cooking rival. My niece is in Tampa, one nephew is stationed at Eglin AFB and my other nephew is in North Carolina. I'll be heading there, next month, for my Grand Niece's first birthday. They are talking about relocating to British Columbia and they want me to move with them. So, we will start researching.

[barbtries]

14. enjoy it!

i usually enjoy making the thanksgiving feast but it just snuck up on me and I am too lazy. So I bought a ready made meal from a nice restaurant and my 2 sons and I will eat like royalty.

[csziggy]

15. That sounds wonderful!

I just got informed last night that my husband's family is going to have a Thanksgiving get together and that I must" attend. Until then I had been told that there would be no get together for either Turkey Day or Christmas. My MIL has been in ICU, hospital, nursing homes and assisted living for most of the year and is finally home but not strong so nothing had been planned until this week.

My usual contribution to the family feast is a pecan pie - easy to make, so that is not the hassle.

The problem is that the part of the family that is hosting the meal is very right wing. Most of the members had said they were not going to vote for Trump but the father seems to have reneged on that idea. This is a man who thinks giving Bill O'Reilly books to the liberals in the family is a generous Christmas gift. I do my best to be polite but mostly I stay out of conversational distance with him.

I'd been looking forward to a quiet weekend without any commitments. Now I have to go be nice to family members I don't like. <sigh>

[Siwsan]

18. I completely blew it off, last year

My sister, mother and aunt all died, in a 9 month period. People invited me over, but I just couldn't bring myself to go anywhere. I think I made stir fry something or other.

That was kind of my plan, this year, except to substitute lasagna for the stir fry. I think I have been steered into a much better plan.

[csziggy]

19. I'd been thinking about inviting a family I know for Turkey Day

The couple and her sister, maybe their son if he didn't have other plans. They don't have plans so I thought about working out cooking with them - we'd cook some and they could bring some. The wife's father didn't want to come up for the weekend, and their daughter is off at college and won't be coming home either.

Good thing I hadn't made those plans!

It's nice to have a holiday meal with family or with people that mean something to you. It can help a lot.

I am so sorry about all your losses. I hope you have a good time this year.

[boston bean]

20. Nice Siwsan. I hope you have a lovely day!

[Ilsa]

21. I hope it all goes well and

Provides some healing for all of you. It'll just be my family this year, but we might also see some friends travelling through. They're good liberal folks.

If there is one near you, consider baking and sending an extra pie to a church or group that is feeding the poor and homeless next Thursday.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

[DFW]

22. I think I prefer your version

Here in Düsseldorf, we usually prepare a huge Thanksgiving dinner for between 15 and 20 friends from Germany and Austria who get, once a year, a meal like they can't get in Germany anywhere else.

Unfortunately, my wife was recently diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and was operated on just two days ago. She is in no shape to make coffee, let alone her usual 10 course Thanksgiving dinner. She won't even be out of the hospital by Thanksgiving.

We have been doing this for over 20 years. This is the first time we have had to cancel.

So have a GREAT time, because you never know what might fly in your face by this time next year!

[Siwsan]

23. So much flew in my face, last year

I lost my sister in January, my mom in February and my aunt in September. I was prepared to never celebrate another holiday, ever again.

But I am now bringing new people into my life. I have grand-niece, who would have been my sister's first grandchild and she turns one on New Years Day. Now I am her 'substitute' Granny and I'll be there to help celebrate her first year. My brother has a new woman in her life, and she has a daughter. I'll be meeting the daughter for the first time, on Thanksgiving. My niece recently became engaged to a great guy.

I am learning how to cherish the old memories and start creating some new ones.

[DFW]

24. That's the way to do it

We're hoping to have a make-up event to make up for what Mother Nature denied us this November.

[malaise]

26. That is so hard - hope she feels better soon

Hugs for you and your wife

[Hekate]

41. Good thoughts to you both, DFW. This is a hard, unfair, thing to go through.

[Liberal In Red State]

25. Always stuck with family . . . Always wished I could play hostess and cook for friends . . .

Good food . . . Great conversations . . . It will be cathartic. . . I envy you! May you have the happiest of Thanksgiving!

[japple]

27. Go to the Cooking & Baking Group. Help is on the way.

You can do it.

[Siwsan]

28. I wrote, in an earlier post, about hosting about 8 British sailors for T'giving dinner, one year

I was stationed in Philadelphia and the HMS Illustrious pulled into the base. The ship hosted a cocktail party, on board, for women working in the medical/dental unit so I got to meet quite a few of them.

They asked for volunteers to host the sailors for Thanksgiving Dinner and I ended up cooking for quite a crowd in my tiny apartment with a VERY tiny kitchen. It was a fantastic time with a whole lot of very interesting conversation.

So I'm no novice, but I'm going to check out that group, anyway! Thanks!!

[japple]

31. The folks at C & B usually rise to the challenge AND to the occasion.

I think this would be a great exercise for all of us.

[elfin]

29. Good for you! I have to travel to Trumpistan for my favorite holiday

Good thing my progressive son and his family are driving me, and I am bringing the appetizer and booze.

Whenever anyone tries to make a gloating joke, I will smile tightly and tipsily say "many, but not a majority agree with you, may I have a refill?"

After a great meal, I will be driven safely home by my loving son and family, who held their tongues and made sure I didn't detonate any now fragile family relationships.

A rare over-imbibing for me. I pity and admire those in AA recovery, who display way more strength than I have for such situations.

[tavernier]

30. I'll be in Mexico on a cruise.

I have to wonder about the reception from the locals. Maybe if I just say Loco whenever his name is mentioned, they won't hate me.

[tblue37]

32. The best part is that the people close to you really DO know you and know what you need. nt

[Texasgal]

33. That sounds lovely!

My husband just passed away on November 3rd awaiting a liver/kidney transplant. I am devastated beyond words.

His favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. My Mom and Dad are hosting this year. Mom hasn't hosted in years due to some medical issues but she insisted this year. I've decided to force myself to go and enjoy, eat and laugh in his honor.

It sounds like you have a great plan. Enjoy!

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

35. ...

[Freddie]

39. ...

My brother's wife died Dec. 20 last year. Suddenly but not entirely unexpected as she'd been in failing health for quite a while. We had the family Christmas anyway. While it wasn't exactly joyous, he said it was good for him and his daughter to be with family and talk and get out of the house for a while.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

34. I'll be driving my blind (Democratic) brother to my well-sighted (Republican) brother's house.

We're going to keep our opinions of Trump to ourselves and we plan to leave early if some Republican loudmouth annoys us too much. Given past Holidays, that's more likely to come from low-IQ in-laws who make brilliant comments like, "Ha ha! Why are ALL Democrats soooo stupid?"

[Siwsan]

36. I used to work with a right wing, born again nut job

I found the thing that made her the most uncomfortable is, when she'd go off on a ridiculous riff, I'd just stare at her and not say a word. Just a cold, hard stare, cut to the depth of her rotting soul stare.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

37. I might try that.

I don't have the patience to engage with those in-laws much deeper than that. My siblings married some real dummies.

The simple Republican messages works well on their simple minds.

[RB TexLa]

38. Blow it off. Holidays aren't worth the trouble.

After a couple of years of ignoring family calls on Thanksgiving and Christmas they will get it.

[Hekate]

40. That put a smile on my face. They love you.

[tavalon]

42. Good!

Whatever gets us out of the depression. We need to be in fighting shape. Beat that turkey into submission and then come on back!