How was your Thanksgiving? I have to say that this was one of the nicest I can remember in an unbroken string of enjoyable holidays. We had our 15 people who ate, played games, talked, watched college football, and hung around for a long time. That’s always my yardstick for measuring how successful a party is.
But since I’ve been writing about the food, I’m going to tell you how that part went. Also, if you don’t particularly care about my results, at least scroll down and read about the two things you shouldn’t do when cooking a turkey. As I said in an earlier post, this is a bit late for Thanksgiving but you may end up having a turkey for Christmas too. (I’m hoping to be asked to do some cooking for that meal, too.)
Everyone reading this probably has TG dinner all planned out, but just in case you don’t, here’s what I’m planning to do right now. We’re up to 15 for the count, with possibly more to come. I’m so thrilled! Back in our old house I always wanted to have 20, but the most we ever had was 13. Which was WONDERFUL, of course. But to me this holiday should be completely and utterly over the top. It’s my favorite holiday of the year. So here goes:
A number of years ago I read an article in the Washington Post Magazine (attempts to track it down online have been unsuccessful) about expensive weddings. The highlight of the story was the description of a couple who spent $100,000 on their special day—and this happened at least a decade ago, when a $100,000 wedding was really a $100,000 wedding. 
At 9:00 last night I told Jim that I was going to take a look at a documentary that was airing on our PBS station but that I thought I probably wouldn’t watch much of it, as it sounded pretty depressing. The title of the film was “
What on earth is the significance of a mountain of mulch to human relationships? Just this: We drive over 16 miles, all the way to Franktown, to buy mulch and other landscaping supplies, passing two others, one less than four miles away and one about seven and a half. It’s a good half hour’s drive. But we refuse to patronize the other two, all because of the interactions (or lack thereof) we’ve had. As our former next-door neighbor and business consultant extraordinaire Walt Hogan used to say, it all comes down to relationships.
More great material from our trip last week. We visited a wonderful church in Kansas City, Mission Road Bible Church, and heard a thought-provoking sermon on the parable of the good Samaritan, or, as the speaker (a young man named Adam Bueltel who seemed wise beyond his years) called it, “
. . . from a performance of the Cirque du Soleil.
. . . so be willing to do some receiving!