Every single Thanksgiving since 1982 I have spent with Tim's family.  This worked out well since my mom would rather have had us on Christmas.  Thanksgiving used to be a huge affair - up towards 50 people.  More recently, it's been smaller.  In the 90's I hosted Thanksgiving for about six years straight.  Since Tim's sister moved back home, she's been having Thanksgiving.

This year Hannah has (besides her boyfriend) a friend and her little boy are staying with her.  After all these years, I'm still not totally comfortable with Tim's family.  When his sister called about Thanksgiving, I mentioned Hannah's friend and little boy, giving her every chance to include them.  It went something like this:

Me:  Well, Hannah has a friend and her little boy staying with her through December.
SIL:  Oh...  (pause)
Me:  I know Hannah wouldn't want to leave her alone on Thanksgiving.
SIL:  ....(nothing)...
Me:  Well, I'm not sure what we're going to do because I don't want Hannah's friend to be alone.
SIL:  ...(nothing)...
Me:  Maybe I should stay home and fix dinner for them this year so her friend won't be alone.
SIL:  Uh-huh.
Me:  Well, count me out then.  I'll do Thanksgiving with Hannah and her friend.
SIL:  Okay, does Tim still want to come by.
Me:  No, Tim wants to spend Thanksgiving with his family.  You know, he doesn't get to visit with them very often.  He will come over.  I will stay home and fix dinner for Hannah and her friend.
SIL:  Okay. 

Tim says I just need to be direct.  I have a hard time being direct.  If it were my mom, after the first mention of Hannah's friend, she would have said, "Bring them on over.  Plenty of food.  Pick up a couple homeless people on the way.  The more, the merrier."

Everyone's different.  I do not communicate well with his family.  No doubt, if I had just asked, "Can Hannah bring her girlfriend and little boy (plus boyfriend)?", she would have said, "Yes."  But I don't like to put people on the spot.  So I go about everything backwards.

Anyway, it turned out really nice.  Tim took Abra over to his sister's.  It ended up being a small dinner this year (plenty of food and room, btw).  I stayed home and fixed dinner for Hannah and Company.  The night before, Hannah came over with her friend and they helped bake pies.  Then they came over about 11:00 on Thanksgiving and spent the day.  We had a great dinner, got to visit, watched Ferris Beuller's Day Off, just had fun.

There was only one thing missing:  Rachael and Dan.  Rachael called before we sat down to eat.  She was somewhere in Montana eating crackers and peanut butter.  I'm sure, years from now, they will fondly remember that first Thanksgiving together.  Because when you're with your soul mate, who cares about ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, green beans, home baked rolls, pumpkin and apple pie.

I meant to take more pictures of dinner, but here are the pies.

Rachael's favorite, pumpkin.  (By the way, Rachael, do you realize I haven't made a pie crust in probably 3 or 4 years?)



Hannah's apple pie.



With real whipped cream, of course.



Hannah and Candice.  Hannah and Rachael are both very good friends with Candice.  (Thought I had a picture of Little D, but I can't find it.)



Hannah's boyfriend, Sean.



We missed you bunches.  Next year!  We'll do it at our house again, but including you and Dan.

Love,
Mom

Supreme Being, Energy, Divinity, Loving Connection, Whatever?  I do.  But, damn it, religion keeps getting in the way.

I'm going to have a second glass of Chardonnay.  Have a nice Friday.

I try so hard to like people, respect different points of view, treat all people with the respect that I believe human dignity deserves.  Then somedays.....  I truly, truly don't like people at all.  I really don't.

If my daughter, dressed as a witch, is going to offend your very tender sensibilities, for God's sake, turn off your porch light and don't answer the door.  Be it far from me to want to offend your very fragile faith.  Geez....

Rant over before it gets real nasty.

One more thing.  I LOVE HALLOWEEN, THE WHOLE DAMN PAGAN HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN.  SO THERE.

Rant really over now.