Thanksgiving 2006
Today has been a new experience for me. It's been years since we've celebrated Thanksgiving anywhere but in our own home. We've hosted relatives, college students, elderly neighbors, and newly-single friends, and I've always enjoyed creating a Norman Rockwellesque gathering.
However, this year we have a new nephew. Our Baltimore-based 4 month old relative is too young to handle the rigors of travel, plus his parents have wisely scheduled his baptism to coordinate with Thanksgiving. So, we've gone over the river and through the woods, and along the way, I have experienced being a Thanksgiving guest again, as opposed to being a Thanksgiving host.
I had forgotten how wonderful being a guest can be. But, here are some thoughts for being a gracious guest:
- NEVER arrive earlier than the scheduled start time. Arriving up to 15 minutes late is perfectly acceptable also, and your host will often times appreciate the extra couple of minutes to put the finishing touches on his/her home.
- ALWAYS bring a housewarming gift.
- NEVER bring a gift that needs special attention (i.e. cut flowers that need to be put in a vase, food that needs to be plated or heated, wine that needs to be chilled).
- ALWAYS offer to help your host, but be aware that some people prefer to work alone.
- ALWAYS make yourself available to pitch in at the last minute with a labor-intensive task, such as clearing the table or mashing the potatoes.
And of course, ALWAYS send a thank you note following the event.
