Thanksgiving Countdown - Celebrating a “New” Thanksgiving

It is just a week before Thanksgiving, and here at the shop we have had a lot of conversations with customers about the holiday. Naturally, we are talking about things like tablecloths, stain removal, and other “at the table” dilemmas. (See the next blog in our Thanksgiving series for those answers!)

And while we talk business, we also talk a lot about life in 2020, including the “new norm,” and how to enjoy traditions in such weird and difficult times. When we ask people about Thanksgiving this year, almost everyone immediately expresses gratitude about their good health and wish it on the rest of the world.

As you can guess, though, some are not looking forward to the forced changes in the way they celebrate. Unable to travel or have a packed house with family from far and wide, they are not feeling all that excited. On the flip side, we hear a lot of people talking about the ways that this oh-so-trying time has helped them appreciate everything in new ways and even find different ways to mark the day.

This inspired us to think of the many “new” ways of celebrating such a traditional holiday. We wanted to do more than update the menu. So, our household is doing a first-ever “Turkey Trot”. We made silly hoodies with our own custom logo and will head out for a brisk walk with Shirley (Trav’s Mom) early on Thanksgiving morning.

We’ll then go home and undo our hard work with a big breakfast emphasizing foods we don’t usually enjoy (including sweets and a gourmet hot chocolate sent by my kid sister). We will use the time to discuss our list of holiday movies we want to watch, catch some of the Macy’s parade, and Travis intends to continue his efforts at turning our cat into a dog by sharing a plate of turkey and gravy with her.  

We intend to set the table as if we were having the large group of family and friends we had hoped to see, including using our best linens, putting out flowers, and lighting candles. We are following the advice of the late Erma Bombeck who said (back in 1979):

“Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything.

My answer was no, but then I thought about it and changed my mind.

If I had my life to live over again I would have talked less and listened more.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I’d have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have burnt the pink candle that was sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored.

I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my children and never worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television … and more while watching real life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband which I took for granted.

I would have eaten less cottage cheese and more ice cream.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the Earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for a day.

I would never have bought ANYTHING just because it was practical/wouldn’t show soil/ guaranteed to last a lifetime.

When my child kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now, go get washed up for dinner.

There would have been more I love yous … more I’m sorrys … more I’m listenings … but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it … look at it and really see it … try it on … live it … exhaust it … and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.”

Yup, we’re busting out the best dishes, the tastiest foods from the pantry (and local stores), and the beautiful tablecloth and cloth napkins that spend so much time in storage. We are SETTING the table, big time, even though it is just the three of us (that includes Coco, the cat). There will be a holiday playlist blasting away as we cook and make a mess in the kitchen, and there will be Facetime with family so far away (hopefully no phones plunge into the gravy boat or steaming casseroles).

We intend to be incredibly impractical and squeeze everything we can out of the free and rare down time together!

We hope you can enjoy every minute of your holiday in whatever ways possible. If you need some help, consider a few tips from the pros at Good Housekeeping:

“…we've found the best quarantine Thanksgiving ideas you can do at home. From watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade (yes, it's still happening this year) to making a creative fall craft, these ideas will help you celebrate in style. You might even find that taking the time to reimagine Thanksgiving could lead to new traditions that last for years to come. Need more ideas on how to celebrate the holiday? These are our favorite things to do on Thanksgiving (besides eat mashed potatoes, gravy, and all the desserts, that is!).”

They go on to suggest:

·         A Scavenger Hunt

·         Making a cool centerpiece

·         Getting outdoors

·         Creating a customized Thanksgiving cocktail to match the flavors of your meal

·         Doing Thanksgiving crafts friendly to all ages

·         Choosing dishes that everyone can help prepare

·         Going virtual to raise a glass or enjoy pre-dinner nibbles

·         Create a “Turkey on the Table”

·         Plan an indoor or outdoor movie night for the post-meal recovery

·         Buy a Thanksgiving or themed puzzle for everyone to tackle (limit it to 500 pieces)

·         Put together a donation - we focus on Maine Needs, and they have loads of giving opportunities!

As we raise our glasses on this unusual Thanksgiving day, we’ll be thinking of the many ways we are blessed by the opportunity to continue to work, to chat with all of you each time you visit, and to spend time together now and in the future. We’ll think of the rare opportunities that this past year has presented, in addition to its many challenges. We’ve been able to form partnerships, such as our Winter Warmth Drive with Maine Needs, launch our website and home delivery services, and even write a few blogs. We are feeling very lucky and blessed and much of that has to do with you!

Tomorrow’s blog will get us back to business and look at tablecloths, stains, and how to deal with the myriad rainbow of colors your table linens can absorb from favorite holiday foods.