Thanksgiving Solo

[Cypress]

I wonder how many folks celebrate the day on their own? After years of uncomfortable "socializing" with relations, I decided to enjoy the day. Perhaps this sounds anti-social but I am not really. The local Congregational Church invites all single folks to a dinner at noon. If I feel alone, I plan to go. Otherwise, if the weather is mild, I look forward to a refreshing walk in the woods.

[reader99]

I'm going to a friend's house for midday dinner. Other than that, it's very much like any other day. I'm the childless only child of deceased parents, and now a widow. For holidays my policy now is to accept the first pleasant invitation I get. In recent years I've come to understand the Jehovah's Witness idea that it isn't necessary or useful to celebrate holidays or occasions. After the first few decades these events aren't so interesting to me any more.

[kally]

Thanksgiving is a WAY bigger deal in the states than in Canada. I have spent a few of them alone and just had fabulous food and a couch and books or a video. Throw in a walk and you have a near perfect day.

Now compare that with the family feud, the family drunk, the arguments of childhood and I would take that any day. Note - I know there are lovely families out there who really enjoy the holidays, but it is not my experience.

[sweetana3]

My husband and I will spend it as we spend most days. In fact, I am cooking our Chicken Roast today and will serve it with cranberry sauce. Too much drama and too many crowds at restaurants.

[CathyA]

I think its perfectly fine! In fact, I'm wishing that's how I could spend it! Sometimes, I'm just not up for big groups of people......but since my family is, I go along with it. There were some holidays when the kids were little, where I just didn't go to the big extended family get-togethers. I think its fine, whatever anyone decides to do! You can always be thankful, all by yourself! Enjoy the day. :)

[Dhiana]

Spending the holiday overindulging in food amongst a crowd of relatives looks great for commercials and movies but doesn't always translate well into real life.
How you choose to give thanks (or not) is really your choice :)

My husband and I will be curled up on the couch together enjoying each others company and BBC mysteries on tv.

[jania]

I'll be spending the day by myself (by choice), that is after I finish working. For years I would go to the homes of friends (as my family doesn't live close by) but I've gotten to the point where racing home from work, showering and changing up into something fresh, then driving over to someone's house when I'm already tired from a full day is just no fun anymore. I prefer to just have a regular work day and come home to eat some cornbread stuffing and watch a movie.

I have great memories of Thanksgiving Days in the past when my family was all together. Now is just a different time.

[larknm]

The happiest Thanksgiving I remember was alone working all day on the book I was writing.

[AmeliaJane]

For a few years, I wasn't near any family or friends. I loved Thanksgiving on my own. Made exactly what I wanted to eat (decadent chicken enchiladas), talked to my family on the phone as long as I wanted, and I usually had some kind of movie fest planned. Now I go to extended family who are very kind but with whom I don't have much in common--mainly so my sibling has someone from her side of the family present. Luckily they don't seem to mind if I bring my iPad along and curl up in the corner with it, but I would be so much happier snuggled up at home...

[jp1]

This year will be just me, SO and our two cats (undoubtedly begging for turkey all through dinner since SO thinks they won't love him if he doesn't bribe them with scraps from the dinner table...). This is definitely my idea of a great way to spend the day. No airports, no stress, just a relaxing day. My only hope is that the predicted rain is gone by lunchtime so that I can get outside for a nice walk down to the ocean before we have dinner.

All that said, I have to admit that as a kid I really did enjoy it when we went to my mother's sister's house for thanksgiving or christmas dinner. (we usually went for one or the other each year, and that was usually the only time we ever saw them.) They were all such sweet people, mom obviously loved her oldest sister very much (and said aunt was a FANTASTIC cook) so it was always a really nice day. Not that I didn't like my immediate family but the rare treat of getting to see this aunt and her family made the day seem more 'special' then when we just stayed home. Of course as a kid I didn't have any of the stress or baggage that adults so often bring to such situations.

[Marianne]

I enjoy getting together with our kids that day. But the year we were invited to the relatives? I could not force myself to go! I stomped my feet and was quite vocal about it. So they all went there. I drove 100 miles to my ex SIL's. She was house sitting for some people and not invited to any of her kid's houses (????). We spent the day driving around in the boonies, taking pictures and topped it off with a big burger. It was great.

And DH and kids were not happy with me!

[dado potato]

Cypress:

Peace be with you, and every Blessing! This Thanksgiving we too are not gathering with relatives, but rather with friends and fellow-travelers.

[Blackdog Lin]

I absolutely adore certain members of my family.....and tolerate others. So we are going to the casino buffet tomorrow: no muss, no fuss. We bowed out of all family entanglements. It will be a fun day, and one I will truly give thanks for.

My prayer I'm gonna give (silently) tomorrow:

"Lord, let me be thankful for my blessings. And let me be thankful for my family. I love them, but Lord, they're a handful sometimes! I appreciate all the bounties you've given us, but please, save me from large Thanksgiving Day gatherings. Let me be thankful in a little way on my own."

[lhamo]

I miss spending Thanksgiving with my family in the US -- we don't have any drama in our family, and it has always been a nice time. And one of the few times in the year when we see members of the extended family.

But since it just isn't practical for us to make it back for Thanksgiving every year (even Christmas can be a challenge), I am enjoying establishing our own traditions here in China. For the past several years, our main celebration has been my work-related Thanksgiving feast at a local hotel. Truly amazing food, good company (I like my colleagues and my grantees, and it is fun to spend an evening with them), and no prep or clean up! This year I am adding a new component, which will be a simple but Thanksgivingy family dinner at home. No turkey, as it is ridiculously expensive and too much food for four people. I'm going to roast a chicken instead (a family favorite) and make some side dishes, and maybe a pie.

I have the day off while the kids are in school and after three days of insane hours/stress at work the introvert in me is rejoicing in a day of peace and quiet at home!

So I guess I am getting a good mix of solo and family activities. And I enjoy cooking so the afternoon should be fun, too. oh, and I'm going to go get a much-needed haircut, and maybe watch the last disk of my latest favorite TV series on DVD.

lhamo

[lhamo]

I miss spending Thanksgiving with my family in the US -- we don't have any drama in our family, and it has always been a nice time. And one of the few times in the year when we see members of the extended family.

But since it just isn't practical for us to make it back for Thanksgiving every year (even Christmas can be a challenge), I am enjoying establishing our own traditions here in China. For the past several years, our main celebration has been my work-related Thanksgiving feast at a local hotel. Truly amazing food, good company (I like my colleagues and my grantees, and it is fun to spend an evening with them), and no prep or clean up! This year I am adding a new component, which will be a simple but Thanksgivingy family dinner at home. No turkey, as it is ridiculously expensive and too much food for four people. I'm going to roast a chicken instead (a family favorite) and make some side dishes, and maybe a pie.

I have the day off while the kids are in school and after three days of insane hours/stress at work the introvert in me is rejoicing in a day of peace and quiet at home!

So I guess I am getting a good mix of solo and family activities. And I enjoy cooking so the afternoon should be fun, too. oh, and I'm going to go get a much-needed haircut, and maybe watch the last disk of my latest favorite TV series on DVD.

lhamo

[pony mom]

For days now I've been hearing clients at the salon complaining about all the family dramas they'll have to deal with on Thanksgiving---who's not talking to who, spending equal time with parents/in-laws, they're bringing who?!, they're making THAT again!, etc. This is supposed to be enjoyable!

I'll be with my parents, an older cousin and uncle. What I'm most looking forward to is the Odd Couple marathon that will be shown for most of the day.

[Simplemind]

I loved Thanksgiving and Christmas as a child. I had wonderful aunts and cousins that I loved to spend time with. Somewhere in early adulthood the families split due to the group getting larger and the kids having their own kids. My sister and I have taken over doing the holidays now that my mom has Alzheimers. I will be the first to admit that I could never hold a candle to my aunts who were great hostesses and were never flustered at extra guests and pulled out card tables. God bless them but that just isn't me. I am a hostess who stresses.

For the past year I have stepped in to help my dad as much as I can during the week and have my folks over for a formal dinner every Saturday night. My husband is a 10 and supports this commitment to my parents. His mother joins us on occasion. My sibs have not helped much during the past year and although I am very happy with my arrangement with my folks I just didn't feel like doing Thanksgiving for everybody so I decided to work. DH is taking his mom to his sister's. DS will be spending time with his dad. We bought a small turkey and will have dinner with just us on Friday and will have the folks over as usual on Saturday.

I am thankful for my husband who is a fantastic cook and supporter of my parents. I'm thankful for my son who fits in helping his grandparents around a very busy teenage schedule. I just want a holiday (even if it is the day after) where it is just us not having to go anywhere or entertaining at our house. We are taking three weeks off in December and I haven't committed to Christmas. For some reason I just feel like being AWOL and I am so looking forward to laying down the spoon.

[Tradd]

I am solo this year for the first time. I've enjoyed myself today! I slept until about noon (although I was up and down for about three hours), had my favorite frozen pizza and fortified by a lot of tea I'm working on the final exam for a previous class in my theological studies program. I'm immersed in the Christological controversy of the 5th Century. My brain hurts trying to keep some of the supporting cast folks straight, but I'm enjoying the learning.

I went to a Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist last night and enjoying chatting afterward with a bunch of folks I'd not seen in a while.

A friend, upon learning I was solo today, offered to bring me a plate of T'giving dinner leftovers, on her way home from a relative's home. I definitely took her up on that offer. Hope there's some cranberry sauce in there (I'm having a craving!) - or I might just get a can of it over the weekend (I love the "chunky" kind).

I work tomorrow, but aside from the fact I was kind of railroaded into working today (as the only single/without kids in my dept.), it will probably be a decent day. They will be bringing in lunch for us, letting us go early (probably around 2:30-3) and a bunch of catch-up work on my desk. I was happy to hear from the boss yesterday that everyone was else (aside from one woman on vacation this week) was told to monitor their email from home early in the morning and that we wouldn't be covering anything for them unless they forwarded it to me or the boss. Boss doesn't think there will be much of that. So, better day than I thought. I get a floater day to use in return for working tomorrow.

[Fawn]

My Thanksgiving was filled with family stress and drama...but I am sooooo looking forward to my Christmas alone. I will work 12 hours December 24th and the same on December 26th. The 25th will be completely alone, quiet, without respnsibility. I am giddy with anticipation.

[Cypress]

The holiday weekend was a pleasant event. For a long time, I have wanted to enjoy the holiday as I chose, this was the first year I let happen what will. The weather was unusually mild allowing me to do what I enjoy, tend the yard, home, read and walk in the State Park. This was over the course of four days. My instincts are toward home and quiet. Since I bought my home two years ago, I am devoted to being home as much as possible. The scene would have been visiting with controlling brothers with limited conversational skill. We are so unalike in outlook and values, that beside the sibling connection, we have little in common. So, I did avoid negativity. It is only a day, if folks want to get together there are many days during the year to do so. This is all conforming to society pressure forcing families together for one day. I feel calm and refreshed today.