The church bulletin reminded me this morning that next week is the all-church Thanksgiving lunch…so I pulled out the day planner and scratched notes to come up with a dish or two to make for the carry-in.
We’re smack in the middle of registration season at work, I’m trying valiantly to finish making and signing all my Christmas cards, and I’ve been spending extra time writing lately, so I completely lost all track of time. Thanksgiving is next week!
This year I get to take it easy on Thanksgiving. I’m not the hostess, so my sole responsibility is to assemble the broccoli salad and show up on time with an empty stomach to fully enjoy the turkey and its entourage of treats.
Thinking about Thanksgivings of yore took me back to the year of Thanksgiving disasters. I have shared about this one before, but it happened about five years ago, so chances are, you’ve forgotten about it and I can relive the joy once more.
That year, I was in the middle of a particularly confusing “love life” situation. I use that term very loosely because love wasn’t involved at all, but the whole he-might-like-me-he-might-not-even-care see-saw was enough to drive me crazy. I spent the entire day before Thanksgiving at the neighbor’s house, crying into multiple cups of coffee and rambling incoherently.
When I finally came home, I let my journal take over for the neighbor’s exhausted ear. Mid-written-rant, I happened to notice my unpaid credit card bill sitting on the desk beside me. I vaguely remembered seeing a newer version of a credit card bill in the recent mail deliveries, so I rushed around until I found an unopened envelope I’d tossed aside in the pre-Thanksgiving madness. I ripped it open and sure enough…proof in writing that the bill on the desk had gone unpaid. I now owed for my purchase, plus the late fee and the finance charge.
I had just enough time to get to the bank, transfer money into my checking account, and get to the store to pay my credit card bill before all retail-ville shut down in anticipation of Black Friday. While en-route to the store, I realized I might not have enough gas to even get across town. I stopped to add a little fuel…and the pump didn’t work. Well of course it didn’t!
I went into the station to see if they were experiencing technical difficulties or if I had ceased to possess enough intelligence to pump gas. Three other customers stood in line with me – and we all had the same question. We were advised to move along to the next station for speedy service. At that point, I didn’t care if I had to be towed home. I was not going to another gas station. I drove to the mall on fumes and prayer, only to discover when I got there…my gas cap was standing wide open. Super.
Thanksgiving morning, I got up with a firm resolve to not worry about silly boys, unpaid bills, or empty gas tanks. I busied myself with meal preparations, ready to welcome the faithful few attending our family dinner that year. I lit candles, set the table, played some music, whipped up the food that was my responsibility to make…and waited for life to improve.
Halfway through dinner, I noticed an odd running-water sound. Since all of us were gathered at the table and Kaegan hadn’t mastered the skill of turning on a faucet, I wasn’t sure what to make of this sound. Then I saw it out of the corner of my eye…my red three-wick candle had sprung a leak in the front and a fountain of red wax gushed down the front of the buffet and landed in a puddle on the tan carpet.
And my sister, who was my landlady at the time, sat right there taking it all in.
Oops.
After dinner, everyone sat around talking…eating…watching TV…and I curled up on the floor with a roll of paper towel and my iron, working on that stupid wax puddle. And to top it all off, I broke my thumbnail trying to chip wax out of the wood on the front of the buffet.
So after a year like that, I think I’m content to carry-in to various dinners. It certainly has to be less stressful than being the hostess with the mostest.
4 hours ago
4 comments:
You couldn't pay me enough to host that silly holiday. That's funny about your candle though!
I hate Thanksgiving.
BTW I have a non sports post KIND OF you just have to scroll down
There is something special about getting together at my mother-in-laws. I bring the ingredients to put a couple of side dishes together while the turkey is in the oven. My sisters in law and mother in law and I chat as we cook and clean while the bird cooks. No fancy decorations, though. My mother in law says we decorate her home with the love of family and that's all the decoration it needs.
I just love my mother in law. She is one of the many blessings I try to remember to give thanks for every day - but especially at holidays.
Phats - I'm very proud of you for your non sports post. Now if we can just work on the thanksgiving thing. :)
Tsofah - That is a beautiful thing your MIL says - I will have to remember that one. I remember similar sorts of things from when Grandma was alive and hosted every major holiday. Her kitchen (which is now my kitchen) was so tiny, and all the women trying to get around in there - well, it was interesting. I miss those days. :)
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