Ah Thanksgiving. It’s that time of year to gather with relatives you never talk to, navigate the minefield of questionable side dishes and even more questionable political opinions. It’s supposed to be a celebration of gratitude, but it’s really an endurance test of small talk and figuring out if the gravy is edible this year.
Do I sound bitter? Because I know it’s not like this for everyone. Many of us in San Francisco fled the awkwardness of suburban small-minded life and now have glorious chosen families. Sure your crazy friend still hits the bottle way too hard, but at least their political complaints are ones that resonate.
I personally will trek back to the land of Applebee’s and homogenized whiteness — and sit at a table with relatives who voted for Trump. So I’ll mostly try to not burn the house down. This is one of those events I used to love arriving in big ball gowns and hot pink pantsuits just to scare the neighborhood bigots, but nowadays I’m just too tired to make the effort. Instead I came up with this bingo card with many joyous traditions I’ve celebrated most my life. Any of these apply to you?
Whether you’re there for the food, the family, or just the free wine, Thanksgiving is a universal parade of chaos that’s oddly comforting in its predictability. It’s a day that reminds us we’re all a little messy, a little loud, and very much human. I wish you the best with yours.
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