Thanksgiving survival: Bring on the tryptophan

I’ve had a great response to the Thanksgiving survival challenge. And as my own 2009 Thanksgiving plans get more complicated and onerous (hooray for pleasing everyone!), I’m starting to take this thread more personally. Why is this so hard? Why does it have to go all sideways every year for so many people?

My foreign-born husband quite reasonably asks why anyone cares in the first place about this arbitrary day with no religious or personal significance. Halloween also kind of freaks him out. Why do people send their children begging for free candy from the neighbors? What is the meaning behind this that would make that an acceptable way to behave? But I’m getting off track.

I only want three things from Thanksgiving, myself. They are:

• The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
• Cranberry sauce
• Stuffing

And though somehow they never all come together (I most often miss the parade), here are some very fine suggestions from my friends on how to avoid the worst of the psychological damage:

M. proposes Chinese food and a movie as a strategy for a peaceful holiday. To this I would only add a draconian caller ID monitoring policy. One of my own best Thanksgivings was spent alone in front of the TV with some microwave mac & cheese. There was a price to pay later, but only you can know if it’s worth it.

J. suggests that having a friend who is “having a really hard time right now,” provides ample opportunities to step out to make consoling phone calls, conduct thoughtful visits, and provides conversation fodder that distracts from whatever social or political insanity your family is currently dwelling upon. Who can fault you for being a good friend? Even if the subject of your consideration is not entirely fact-based.

P. says that having your own car is vital. And anyone who has been trapped transport-free in an increasingly painful  situation knows that something as simple as a trip to Wawa can make the difference between a passable evening and a death spiral of tryptophan and wine-fueled infighting.

Tell us how you plan to get through the holidays.