A Snowball for Thanksgiving

Monday, November 28, 2005

Page 15

AT THE SIDEBAR (Column)

A Snowball for Thanksgiving

By J’AMY PACHECO

I was planning a nice, quiet family dinner for Thanksgiving this year.

See, I don’t host big Thanksgiving dinners. That task normally falls to another sibling, while I take on the big family Christmas feast each December.

I was born on Thanksgiving Day, and since my birthday falls on or near the holiday, I consider Thanksgiving to be my time to sit back, relax, ponder mortality — and let somebody else do the kitchen work.

A few weeks ago, though, I learned that my Thanksgiving sister wasn’t going to be able to host the holiday. My husband’s niece recently moved here from another country, so I thought it would be nice to buy a cute little turkey, whip up a couple of pies at home, and invite her and my sister-in-law to join us. They said they’d come.

Since our normal family Thanksgiving dinner was off, it occurred to me to invite my parents as well. They were interested, but pointed out that their attendance at my house would leave my oldest brother without a place to go for dinner. They felt compelled to invite his family out to eat, and were delighted when I said I’d add his family of four to our little list.

Next, I learned that my other brother’s wife’s family was going out of the country for Thanksgiving, leaving them with no place to eat turkey dinner. I added three more to our list.

Then I got a phone call from my own niece, lamenting the fact that her mom wasn’t making Thanksgiving dinner. I invited her to join us.

“Yeah!” she exclaimed. “Um…can I bring a friend?” Two more tally marks went down on my list.

I wasn’t too surprised when my other sister-in-law and her husband, having heard through the grapevine that I was cooking, wanted to come and bring their adult son. Of course, I said, “Okay.”

But I was rather surprised when I learned some of my brother-in-law’s family members would be visiting from out of state, and they might join us, too.

Oh, and as if this cake needed any icing, I got an e-mail from my Thanksgiving sister. She had no place to go for Thanksgiving dinner, had heard I was cooking, and wanted to come with her teenaged son.

Thanksgiving dinner snowballed from a small gathering to a horde of hungry people. My guest list grew to an enormous length, and unbelievably, included at least three complete strangers. At that point, it wouldn’t have surprised me if some of the original Pilgrims showed up.

My quiet family meal grew to a feast of unparalleled proportion. That cute little turkey and my measly pies weren’t going to cut it. I was going to need a contract with Halliburton to feed this mob.

It’s not just the food. Christmas dishes — I have. For like a bazillion people. Come to my house for the holidays, and every meal will be served on cheery holiday dishes adorned with poinsettias, Christmas trees, or even little teddy bears. I’ve got Christmas salt-and-pepper shakers; Christmas tree glasses and all kinds of linens in festive Christmas colors.

What I don’t have is brown stuff with little turkeys on it, or plates for more than 12 — because Thanksgiving isn’t my holiday. A family of three never needs everyday plates for more than 12, so that is exactly what I have.

I refuse to use Christmas dishes for Thanksgiving (did I mention that it’s not my holiday?), and I shudder at Thanksgiving food being piled upon paper plates. So each of my prospective guests has been advised to bring their own dinner plate. Washing will be complimentary, of course.

Presumably to stop my whining, my husband found the good in all this. He suggested, since we’re hosting Christmas dinner in just a few weeks, we leave everything in place. Dinner tables for 25-ish in a straight line, stretching from the dining room into the family room. It’s a practical suggestion, but not one I’m ready to accept.

My unexpected Thanksgiving turned out to be fun, and I was really thankful — especially when everybody went home.

I was short a few dishes, but I have a loving home and a wonderful family with which to fill it. We had plenty to eat, and I even had help cleaning up afterward.

I have a lot to be thankful for, and I am. But maybe I should have asked somebody to bring a birthday cake…