Turkey and Dressing with a Side of Hassle

The time for planning for the holiday season always comes as a shock, no matter how many years we're here breathing air on God's green earth. It's kind of along the same lines as very-last-minute Christmas shopping (which I've been guilty of also) and arriving to a birthday party and you either 1) forgot a present or 2) were supposed to bring something but didn't.

Typically for Thanksgiving, my wife and I stay home. She gets excited about cooking this big fancy meal and I'm usually responsible for setting the table and keeping guests entertained. Our friend Janette, whom we've known for seven years now, always comes to Thanksgiving. In fact, we haven't missed one single Thanksgiving with her since we've known her. I'll tell one little anecdote: the first Thanksgiving, when we lived in Joplin, Missouri - the first time we had Thanksgiving with Janette - Sarah attempted to make my grandmother's famous stuffing. Well, she didn't do a very good job, and she admits it. That's why we can all laugh about it now! Janette ate every single bite. How she did it I'll never know. But it's something we laugh about these days.

This year, we've loaded up the Saturn and are heading north for our very first Thanksgiving at Janette's place. She asked us kindly if we would be able to travel this year, instead of her coming to us as usual. It worked out that my schedule allowed for me to make the journey, and so we are.

With that said, I've been thinking about the holidays and travel, and why we put up with going out of our way just so we can be hassled. Now, I'm not at all suggesting that this is a hassle to go see our friend. What's running through my mind, though, is the Christmas Vacation movie with family all shoved into one space, events that end up going wrong, and general chaos.

I guess I'll estimate that it's partly because of tradition. Going through the hassle is what Americans always do, and it's sort of a running joke. "Oh poor Uncle Bob" or "Crazy Aunt Sally."

But I'll go ahead and be sentimental and say it's also because, secretly, we do love our family and friends. I'll never say it isn't fun to poke at our family or friend-group crazies, but going to be with people you love for the holidays is what we're supposed to do.

Speaking of crazy - we have two dogs, two dog kennels, two adults, a baby, suitcases, a diaper bag, computers and who knows what else in this car. That's crazy!