A Thanksgiving of our very own

[miladygrey]

Last night, Yeats was chatting with his brother online, and Bro oh-so-casually mentioned that they'd picked a date for Thanksgiving the First (immediate-family Thanksgiving/Queen Liz's birthday), the weekend before Thanksgiving proper. Which they've decided should be at their house, two hours away, this year. Queen Liz wants an elaborate ice-cream cake (to be ordered and carried down by my mother-in-law), here is the list of side dishes Kel would like with the turkey (all to be either made in advance and brought down by us and MiL, or cooked day-of in their kitchen by Yeats), and how would Grey feel about making two pies this year?...

Yeats told him no.

Yeats told him that the date he had picked was the one and only Saturday between now and Christmas that is not already booked on our calendar for author events or other family gatherings, that he is not the family indentured chef, and that he does not feel like driving two hours to VA, cooking all day to make an elaborate meal that the children still won't touch, then doing all the dishes and driving two hours back home. He may also have added that I am not a pie-making machine. Bro attempted to backpedal--we can preorder a cooked turkey! Two pies aren't necessary! He'll make Kel help out!--but Yeats stood firm. We will send Liz a card and her birthday gift, and we will see them on Thanksgiving, along with everyone else.

On the selected Saturday, he and I will stay home together. We will pet cats, and read, and I will very likely watch Yeats play Red Dead Redemption II. We will drink a little wine--wine that is not Kel's favorite Pixie-Stick-sweet moscato. We will do exactly as much cooking as we feel like doing, whether that is a roast goose (as Yeats has always wanted to try) and pie, or ordering pizza. And I will not end the day frustrated and gravy-stained and with a headache, like I did last year (see this entry for the saga of last year).

I love my family. But right now, I love Yeats the most.

Comments

[havocthecat]

Oh, thank you for reminding me that I am not the only person who has family who does shit like this to them.

Good for you for saying no. You know, restaurants are wonderful things. I may just suggest one this year, along with our traditional homemade breakfast and a couple of homemade desserts.

Yeats sounds like the best. Also, is there any chance I can Paypal you money and get an autographed book from him? I keep meaning to ask and forget.

[miladygrey]

Nope, you are not alone. Yeats told me about the conversation once he was done, and my response was "They have a Cracker Barrel up the road from them. They'll be fine." After last year and the passive-aggressive sighing about how we only cooked a whole turkey and stuffing and potatoes and green beans and cranberry sauce and butter bars, there wasn't even any pie, I am fully prepared to let them eat...well, anything Yeats and I didn't labor over.

Let me check with him about Paypal logistics and get back to you--I don't think it would be a problem!

[havocthecat]

Oh, for fuck's sake. They will be FINE without you cooking everything for them. Your meal sounds AMAZING and if there's more they wanted, they could have made it.

Sounds great on the Paypal! Take your time. I am in no rush. I have a deductible payment coming up.

[miladygrey]

Did I mention how they brought nothing except themselves? Kel somehow never found the time to make the one dish she said she would, and my MiL had to scramble to nuke chicken nuggets and frozen corn after the kids decided they didn't waaaaant turkey (although they sure wolfed down cake and ice cream). Apparently I am still bitter 11 months later.

Yeats wants to roast a duck and fry potatoes in the fat, I found a recipe for brandied pumpkin-chestnut pie. All things we like, and we will not have to share with anyone.

[miladygrey]

Yeats says Paypal will work, or if it's easier for you to buy a copy from Amazon or B&N, he can send a signed bookplate. Let me know which you'd prefer, as well as which of the trilogy you'd like, the name for signing and the address for mailing, and we'll get on it! You can email me details at lilianegrey@gmail.com.