• Thanksgiving dinner
• May your stuffing be tasty
• May your turkey plump,
• May your potatoes and gravy
• Have nary a lump.
• May your yams be delicious
• And your pies take the prize,
• And may your Thanksgiving dinner
• Stay off your thighs!

(Anonymous)

So, what are your plans for Thanksgiving dinner? Yes – you do have to make plans. If you don’t make plans, you run the risk of having someone make plans for you and that could be no fun at all. So, here are some options:

• Dinner served in your home with you, some family and/or friends
• Dinner served in someone else’s home with you, some family and/or friends
• Dinner served in a restaurant with you, some family and/or friends
• Dinner served in your home by yourself
• Dinner served in a restaurant by yourself
• No dinner
• Popcorn in a movie theater by yourself or with others
• Snacks in front of the TV or computer monitor
• A tasty Lean Cuisine that won’t ruin your weight loss plan
• Cheese and crackers while sitting on the beach, spillway, park bench
• Peanut butter on celery
• Brauts, brauts and more brauts with chips and brownies
• Chinese take out
• Pizza with extra cheese that will burn the roof of your mouth
• OK, you come up with the next option

You see there is no law that you have to eat what we pretend that the Pilgrims ate when they celebrated survival and harvest and community. You can eat what you like and be thankful!!

Some of you have marvelous holidays planned with wonderful people.  Have a great time and be thankful!

And, some of you are already committed to cooking or eating stuff that you really don’t want with people who aren’t your favorite folks. (Johnny Carson said: “Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often.”) I am sorry for that. But, it is only one day a year, so put on that happy face and get with it.

And, for those of you will be alone, you have a choice. If you want to be alone, enjoy your day. I have spent Thanksgivings by myself, had a great time and been blessed. Have a wonderful day.

But, if you do not desire to be alone now is the time to plan. If you know others who have no plans, organize some time together. But, if that isn’t an option, call and offer to help somewhere. Call the local soup kitchen and offer to do dishes or serve a meal. Call local churches and let them know that you are willing to help with meals that they may be serving.  Contact the local agency that assists senior citizens and offer your services.

You do not have to be alone on this holiday. But, you may have to step up and to put yourself out there. You have time to make arrangements now. Do it for yourself; do it for others.

“May He (the Lord) give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” (Psalm 20:4)

p.s.  Yep, we have plans to spend Thanksgiving with generous and sweet friends.