First, a disclaimer. I am blessed with a husband who regularly pitches in around the house. Not only does he do the “man” stuff like putting up Christmas lights and trimming trees, it’s not unusual for him to wash dishes or vacuum. On one hand, I admit to feeling like we both work fulltime and so that’s only fair, right? But I know a LOT of women whose husbands only know the kitchen because the refrigerator is located in that room. Anyway, my disclaimer: I am a blessed wife.
There is this one area, though, that he just doesn’t quite “get”. The Fairy Godmother of Thanksgiving Dinner doesn’t show up at 4am tomorrow, wave her magic wand and stand back to declare the day ready to go. No, it actually begins with the dreaded grocery trip (which I despise generally but even more so the day before Thanksgiving). Thank you, Nick, for offering to go with me last year and this year. You know who I love the most? People who share hideous chores with me. 
Then there’s trying to figure out a way to fit 2 dining room tables where there is only room for 1. I can get ridiculously creative on this one ~ we tried rigging the pool table a time or two as a makeshift dining room table and it actually worked..kind of. If you were willing to reach UP for your food (because the table sat a lot higher than usual), then it was a success. W claimed success; I claimed failure.
There is the table setting itself. Okay, this part I actually like…never mind. I don’t want help in that area.
There is making sure the house remains in a clean and tranquil state for our guests. With 3 very hairy canines in residence, this always presents a challenge. I’m looking at my living room right now and I’d like to take a picture. Dogs sleeping, every pillow in place, rug unwrinkled, not a dust speck. Tomorrow morning? The newspaper will be strewn across the sofa, the TV blaring the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, Roscoe chasing crabby Wally, Kahlua being neurotic on the chair…you get the idea. It will be then that a prescription for anxiety medication would be a welcome lifestyle change.
This happens every year. I do it to myself because I want everyone to be comfortable when they arrive and I’d like to be hanging out with them instead of cooking by that point. And I will be…it will all be fine. This is actually just part of the tradition ~ W being clueless about why I stress out and me stressing out. Ahhhh, just a little dance among a happily married couple.
The truth is that as long as there is pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole tomorrow, I couldn’t care less about the rest of the meal. The truth is that W will do whatever I ask of him and my irritation comes with him not being able to read my mind about what needs to be done. The truth is that I miss my Devon most on this holiday because that petite little thing loves to eat and this is her favorite holiday. I think it makes me a little crabby that she’s not here to drive me nuts. The truth is that I take control of this holiday and then get overwhelmed. There’s probably some diagnosis for that kind of behavior.
The truth is that I love Thanksgiving. Love it. I love the leftovers and the chaos and the smells and the parade. I love knowing that the day after Thanksgiving is all about the malls and shifting to Christmas mode. I love breaking out Harry Connick and Charlie Brown Christmas cd’s. I don’t necessarily love that my husband doesn’t have the first idea on how to operate our washer and dryer but I do love that he’s willing to clean a bathroom just for the asking.
Back to the disclaimer: I am a blessed wife..and mother, daughter-in-law, and daughter. I am thankful that I get to be a bundle of nerves the day prior to having over a dozen people to break bread with tomorrow. And, W, I am thankful that you can just allow me this one day to be downright unreasonable at moments (alright, maybe I ask for more than one day now and again). I am thankful to have a job I love and that I work with amazing people who inspire and laugh with me daily. I am thankful for two great children who are among the funniest people I know. I am thankful for my health and for everything God has placed in my path.
And I will keep all of this in mind while I stand in never ending Publix lines and while I’m complaining that I need more room to fit two tables comfortably. I will…..because the bottom line is this. I love Thanksgiving. Love it.