Thanksgiving survival tip: If there’s a dog, walk it.

With the holidays fast approaching, I’ve started thinking about the tactics we all use to cope with situations that are… close. When you get close family in close quarters things can get dicey, and we all make little deals with ourselves and develop tactics and strategies for coping.

Not, of course, that there’s ever any reason to want to claw my skin off when I’m celebrating these joyous occasions with my own loving family (is my mom still reading?).

Families are ubiquitous, and family aggravations are – in 99 out of 100 cases – pretty pedestrian and totally boring. That one case in a hundred is a real doozy, though. Zoom.

Meanwhile, when things get fidgety around the old homestead – when Uncle Ralph starts expounding on politics, or Aunt Penelope wants to talk about your love life – or you just can’t stand One. More. Damn. Minute. I suggest you walk a dog.

• Everyone who has a dog is grateful to have it walked.
• The dog is also grateful.
• The dog uses up some energy that may help make for a more peaceful evening all-around.
• And you get a much deserved break while making yourself useful – who can complain about that?

If there is no dog on the scene, think of something else to do. Does the chef need anything from the store? Is there a car that needs to be washed? Firewood chopped? Perennials pruned? Whatever. Just get out.

It’s simple, I know. But extrication can be an art. And it took me an embarrassingly long time to learn how and when to disengage. And I don’t get it right every time. Not every battle needs to be fought, and not everyone needs a piece of your mind. Sometimes this is just about getting to the other side.

In fact, I’ve already got a bunch of great (and some macabre) suggestions from friends online and around the office. More to come on the subject…