Ah, the things that we can’t plan for. First, the flu bug has absolutely no sense of holidays and wings its nasty way about with exactly zero regard for what havoc it wreaks. However, it can be a mild case as opposed to severe and I suppose one can be grateful for that. I knew full well that my husband was coming down with whatever everyone else at the dive shop had and he chose to believe otherwise. By Sunday evening, it was difficult to deny how he really felt and by Monday when he was faced with a 10-hour drive to Georgia early the next morning, he admitted defeat. At that point, aside from the fact that he was dragging badly, we didn’t know if I would catch it and if I did, then I would be the contagious one in the midst of elderly mother, two infants, and a very pregnant second cousin. Not the sort of holiday cheer that one wishes to spread.
Okay, scratch the trip to Georgia and a neighbor who heard immediately offered for us to come to their house. A couple they had planned on wasn’t able to and she was already intending to cook for six. The expectation was that we would either go there or plates would be delivered to us. Fine, that’s a good back-up plan. Except, with a twelve-pound turkey on hand, her husband is not feeling well (not the flu) and there is no way for them to have a house full of company. Alright, this is manageable. The other couple going to her house actually lives closer to us and often dines with us. So, she will have a small meal with her husband, then bring turkey, a wonderful cranberry chutney that she prepared yesterday and perhaps potatoes to our place in the late afternoon. I dashed to the store to get green bean casserole, frozen apple pie, Stove Top stuffing, and a jar of gravy – no chastisement will be accepted at this point for taking shortcuts. I will make the lovely artichoke and cheese spread from scratch since I had offered to do that anyway. None of that even addresses the other set of good deeds that I will be doing for much of Friday, but that is most assuredly a different subject. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
