I ask this question as a way to have a conversation about the pain we share in having what may be a rather lonely Thanksgiving. I know I am not the only person here who will be having the first Thanksgiving of my life with no guests at all.
My husband and I will be making most of the meal we have always made, but we will not be sharing it with anyone but ourselves. We considered going to my sons' place for Thanksgiving, being very, very careful, but with the recent uptick in Covid-19 cases, we agreed with them that we should stay at home and look forward to next year together.
We will talk with them with a Zoom/Facetime conversation that will include some other members of our extended family, some of whom will be completely alone. It is kind of sad, but talking in this way will be better than nothing. We are using both Zoom and FaceTime because not everyone has either one and those of us who can do both want to include as many as possible. So we will have the iPad and the PC on the coffee table while we talk to others.
After 8 months of staying home, I find that my house is very clean, I have made good progress in my gardens, and I have done my best at being positive. Nevertheless, I am near tears as I write this, simply worn down with the stress of it all. I will put on a happy face for the big meal I am preparing for me and my husband, the family call. I really and truly am grateful for all my blessings. Still, though, I do feel a bit sad and lonely. I feel in need of a touch, a hug, I talk to my Mom, my sisters, my sons on the phone, see them electronically, but live in relative isolation.
I know that I am lucky. My husband and I have each other, we live in a house we love, with some views of the town where we live and the mountains beyond. We are not at risk of running out of food, we have enough, and will be able to continue having groceries and other needs delivered to our home. We are grateful and thankful. We wish everyone else were this lucky.
Yet we are lonely and sad, trying to make the best of things. To all the others here who are struggling with these same problems, and more, I wish you well, I feel your pain. You are not alone in your loneliness. You are not alone in your need for touch and contact. But you will survive this and we may meet again in the future, have that hug, and cry all we want without guilt or shame. Have the best Thanksgiving you can have and remember that next year will be better. Love to you all.
I would cook for three days! My brother would sit at the table and say that his darling wife didn’t like Turkey! LOL
Poor thing! Did he really expect me to cook a separate meal for her? He said that she liked ham. I served ham on Easter.
She never lifted a finger to help either.
Nothing made my mom happier than watching me work like a dog and serving my brothers!
Karma! Now they have my mom!
I was also ordering the pre-cooked turkey from the grocery store for Thanksgiving in the past and it was always DELISH!! DH would make a couple of side dishes, I'd make a couple, and the guests would bring a side dish or dessert of their own. I don't love cooking, but I hate the clean up even worse!
We'll also be having a Zoom call at 6 pm with our children *7 between us* and that will be nice. My soon to be 94 y/o mother will be dining at her Memory Care ALF and not joining us this year. Unfortunately, she chose not to join us for Thanksgiving luncheon at the Chart House last year coming up with an excuse about not feeling so good. What that taught me is live for TODAY. Grab every opportunity you can b/c nothing is guaranteed. Had she known this Thanksgiving we'd be in the midst of a pandemic, betcha she would've felt 'better' last year and come with us. Can't change yesterday but we sure can change how we deal with today.
Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving. I hope it turns into a nice day after all and that you & your DH give one another extra hugs & kisses to make up for the ones you can't get and give to the other loved ones in your life.
I am no Martha Stewart or Julia Childs so cooking was always very stressful for me. I see on game shows where a prize is an "outdoor cooking area" and I am thinking, I don't even want in "indoor cooking area".
Therefore in the past 10 or so years, it has been the local grocery store doing the cooking. I pick up the items and heat & serve. Back when my parents were alive, my Mom would bring over a home made side dish.
Two years ago my sig-other's grown daughter [40+] and her two teenager daughters came to visit. We always pay for them use a nearby hotel chain to give them more privacy, and to give me less cleaning. The gang said they would be back over to help Thanksgiving morning. Well.... they showed just in time to eat. I tried to put on a smile.
I wish more families felt as you and your sisters do.
I love how you have equally divided your caregiving responsibilities. How lovely!
Now, to answer your question. A quiet dinner at home with hubby, oldest daughter and myself.
Not cooking this year. Whole Foods is cooking.
I am thankful for my husband and daughters. My youngest daughter just moved to Colorado so she will be missed at our holiday table.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!