Today is Thanksgiving, or if you are part of the 95% that makes up the rest of the world, Thursday. That is unless of course you aren’t reading this on a Thursday. Technically it isn’t Thursday for me either as I am writing this well in advance of my near certain tryptophan-induced turkey coma. I digress.
By the time you read this, my turkey day celebrations will be underway. My children have likely spent the last hour complaining about how mean I have been for not giving them snacks when all I was trying to do is ensure they have room in their tummies for a no thank you helping of green bean casserole. It’s delicious! Trust me! My dad and Lamont are likely outside debating the merits of smoking a bird with charcoal versus electricity as they monitor the meat thermometer’s readings while holding a beer in hand. Meanwhile, my stepmom is probably barricaded behind a kitchen counter covered in heating pads and Pyrex.
My teenaged brothers have likely been tasked with setting the table and filling glasses with water but are more interested in coordinating an afternoon meeting with a girlfriend or two. I will notice fewer place settings filling the room as both my sisters (and their families) are attending meals elsewhere this year. Left to represent the daughters of the family, I may even be invited to sit at the grown-up table.
Even so, the house will hardly feel empty. My grandfather and his wife may join us or they may not. At 100, grandpa doesn’t really worry about things like advanced planning anymore. The dogs will run underfoot hopeful that someone will drop something tasty. Phones will ring off their hooks as various relatives check in and at some point, my step-aunt and uncle will arrive with rolls (and maybe a pie), signaling that the time for celebration has come.
The grown-ups (and big kids) will eat until our stomachs reach their limit. LT will likely experiment with gravy and cranberry sauce as hair care while his brother runs off to re-discover their uncles’ old toys. Before long, it will be time to pry Lamont away from the football game on TV and herd the children into the car so that we can repeat the entire process at Lamont’s parents’ house.
Or none of this might happen. My Thanksgivings are delicious, messy, loud and at times chaotic affairs. It is a day steeped in tradition, but flexibility too. It’s a holiday like no other. I surround myself with family, but someone else might prefer a quiet meal for two. We’ll cook a turkey, but the house across the street from us may serve ham or tofurkey instead. There are very, very few wrong Thanksgiving traditions. It is a holiday that allows you to celebrate as you see fit as long as you simply remember to say, thank you.
So here’s wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to you all no matter how you celebrate. Or Thursday. Or whatever.
And thank you.
Allie Potts 
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
LikeLike
Thank you! Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Thanksgiving – sounds like a lovely time!
LikeLike
Hope yours is the same!
LikeLike
Hope you had a great day!
LikeLike
Thanks! Hope your day has been great too.
LikeLike
Sounds great! Happy Thanksgiving from the U.K.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smells pretty good too. Hope you are having a great day too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A pretty accurate description of yesterday (except I wasn’t drinking beer – went straight to champagne this year). I am so Thankful for so many blessings, one of which is that you’re my daughter. Love. Dad.
LikeLike
Yeah. I guessed wrong on that one as well as LTs hair care choice. He went with marshmallow topping instead.
LikeLike
At 100, I’d assume nothing. My plan? Take it minute by minute. I’m impressed by people like your grandpa. Hope your Thanksgiving was every bit as chaotically wonderful as you envisioned!
LikeLike
It’s a good plan. He was there. He told me I was beautiful, smart, and that he didn’t like my first book. Guess you and I get to share that grandparent unapproved stamp. I hope yours was great too!
LikeLike
LOL. It’s a badge of honor!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Allie,
I think we originally met on Lucy Mitchell’s site, but I also know Maja.
Tryptophan makes me sleepy too, yet I have a turkey sandwich everyday for lunch. It sounds like you had a nice Thanksgiving.
Thanks for dropping by my blog today and liking my new post about how to get 1,406 page views in one day. Great seeing you.
Janice
LikeLike
Always nice to see you too. I can’t eat turkey during the work week. Well I could… but I’d probably get fired for taking too many naps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
LikeLike
Sounds much like the Thanksgivings we enjoyed when my children were young, and we were all together for the holiday. How I miss those days! Thanks for a glimpse at your own environment. It was fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope it was wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Allie, This is not related to your post… I wanted to let you know I started reading THE FAIR & FOUL last night and am loving it. Let’s just say, at 2:30 am I forced myself to put it down and get some sleep. I’m excited about reading the rest of the book. Congrats on your achievement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank you so much! I hope the second half lives up to your expectations.
By the way – I absolutely love Kalin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Allie, that’s great to hear. And I’m sure I’ll love the rest of the book. The trick of me is to get some work done today and save the reading for this evening!
LikeLike
That’s always a tough one for me too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are very, very few wrong Thanksgiving traditions.
I so agree with you on this idea. Would make a nice phrase on a paper cocktail napkin… kind of put guests in the right frame of mind about the meal to come.
LikeLiked by 1 person