Thanksgiving

It was a lousy plan even before recent events. I will be driving to Perry, GA tomorrow to pick Opie up in the afternoon, start driving home and finish the drive Thanksgiving morning.

I had hoped this was the year he would be on TV Thanksgiving Day in the National Dog Show, but for the second year in row, he was a runner-up in best of breed. I’m not a big enough person to watch the dog that beat him compete in the hound group so I won’t be rushing to get home for the broadcast.

 

We just moved our outdoor Thursday lunch to Friday because of weather. For the first time we decided to cater because our crowd is so small (9 instead of the usual 20-24) and I’m coming off of shoulder surgery and of limited utility

 

Instead of turkey, making prime rib because just 3 of us at home. I'm very sad because I LOOOOOOVE turkey and gravy, and mostly because I've always spent Thanksgiving with my sister, mother, dad and cousins and their families. Usually something around 24 people, crowded in my mom's house, eating lunch, hanging out, watching football, going to the zoo, then the big dinner. We are all making our own meat and then doing a side dish exchange. First one in my 50+ yrs without a Thanksgiving dinner. But safety is more important.

Stay safe everyone!

 

I'm going to admit that we're doing exactly what you usually do (minus going to the zoo!), and what most would say we shouldn't, because two of my brothers will be moving very far away -- as in out of the country -- within the next couple of months, one of the grandchildren is here this week from across the country, and my mom is getting on in years, and frankly, all she wants anymore is just to see the kids and grandchildren. Thanksgiving and Christmas are always big deals for our family.

So, we'll be getting together at my mom's house -- 20 of us, down a few from the crowd that usually comes -- but we'll be doing what we can to spread out. We've got a plan for some to eat in the dining room and some to eat in the adjacent living room (so that, hopefully, nobody feels too separated). And if the weather's nice, some of us may eat outside in the backyard.

It's what everyone has decided they want to do -- my mom called everybody a couple days ago to double-check before doing any Thanksgiving shopping. So, yes, we're taking our chances, and we're going to hope for the best.

 

- Wife, kids, dog, MiL, FiL
- MiL making her pork stuffing. I would kill any of you just to have it as a last meal.
- Making a dozen pies, three for the house, the rest for distribution on friends' front stoops
- Brining the turkey, which will be fried. Outside. Alone.
- Long Trail Double Bag to drink and a Room 101 Farce to smoke to get through the frying and viewing the putrescent fruit of the Belichick coaching tree.
- Primetime football game, online shopping, and whiskey from cleanup until I give up

 

I understand and wish you guys a happy healthy holiday.

 

This is worrisome.

 

Pickleball in the morning. Nice breakfast afterward. Traditional holiday meal around 3, just the wife and me. Steelers to wrap up the day. Supposed to be a glorious day weather-wise.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

Blessings and love of this household to every one of you dopes, here, there and anywhere.

I'm the luckiest man alive, and thankful for it all.