You Heard It Here: Happiness Is
This month, Happiness Is Thanksgiving dysfunction. Because really… let’s face it. Who out there lives WITHOUT dysfunction? Anyone? I’d really like to know. Because as much as I like to think I’m normal and my family is normal…well, we’re just… NOT.
(This card cracks me up! It’s perfect!)
We are as dysfunctional as it gets. I’m not talking about my household specifically, because honestly, I love my husband and adore my daughter and I think in general we all get along and we make an awesome family unit. I’m talking about my extended family. I do love them, but sometimes they drive me a little nuts. I’ll admit that I spilled the whole Thanksgiving story on this blog then promptly erased it.
Really, you have to smile because the right kind of dysfunction is priceless. And there’s nothing more that makes me smile than really good fodder for books. I guarantee you that this story will make its way into one of my books because it’s too laughable to bury. (Not to mention the fact that I don’t think my cousins have picked up one of my books nor have ever been here to my blog… and that’s truly not bitterness, it’s just a reality… but I digress…)
My happiness is three-fold this month because aside from the holiday dysfunction, I was thrilled that my husband is getting to direct the current Nickelodeon show I’m working on, The Thundermans. I’m so proud of him and the great work he does when he directs.
And my last happiness is remembering that one of the very favorite scenes I’ve ever written is a Thanksgiving scene in Dangerously Close, when Mel and Ashley have stuffed their faces, trying to make a dent in enough food to serve 8 people and getting to know each other. They solidified their friendship on that Thanksgiving and as crazy as it sounds I’m thankful that those two characters are kind of always with me this time of year. They make me smile.
What about you? Anything in particular that makes you smile during Thanksgiving? Any family dysfunction that’s so priceless you have to laugh about it? Let me know! I need the company. <G>
Hi Dee- I’m chuckling… my group has whittled down from 22 to 19 for Thanksgiving. Mostly I’m thankful for being able to enjoy our entire family at one time. It’s rare that we can all get together at once. And what better way than to eat like it’s going out of style? Happy Thanksgiving! I know you’ll have a great day!
Hi Charlene,
I’m hosting my first Thanksgiving this year and I can’t imagine having as many as 22 OR 19!! I’m at an even 10 now and crossing my fingers that I can pull it off. Haha. Happy Thanksgiving to you! Hope you have a lovely holiday!
Hi Dee J!
This probably doesn’t qualify as dysfunction, but my mom was always very health conscious and she didn’t cook with butter or salt or sugar, (someday I’ll tell you about the Sweet N’ Low b-day cake, but that’s a whole ‘nother story). Anyway, Thanksgiving dinner never really excited me because I thought turkey tasted dry as dust and stuffing was this brown crumbly stuff.
Then, when I was 7, we moved closer to my aunt & uncle and I experienced nothing short of a culinary epiphany during my first Thanksgiving at their house. I loved oven-roasted turkey,(soaked in brine and rubbed with butter)! I loved stuffing! I loved sweet potatoes with marshmallows! And I knew what it meant to be truly thankful for something. (That my mom had not prepared the Thanksgiving dinner). 😉
Hi Sam,
Love this story!!! I can just picture your sweet 7 year old self with wide eyes as you taste your first delicious turkey and fixings. Too sweet. I’ve been very lucky to have been at my aunt’s house. She’s an amazing cook. I think everyone is cringing at what this year at my house is going to bring. LOL. Although I do have the new kitchen going for me. Worst case scenario, I’ll just keep taking people in the kitchen so they don’t think about the food. LOL.
This year, about twenty of us are descending en masse upon my mother-in-law’s cousin in Texas. The majority of us live in SoCal. Five of us will be sleeping in an RV, one of us will be sleeping in a horse trailer, four of us will be sleeping in a workshop in sleeping bags, and a very lucky five people will actually be sleeping in the house. We’re writing out a schedule to use the shower. Most of the family gets along well, but there are a few who blend about as well as chalk and cheese. It will be interesting to see who is still speaking with whom after a week more or less under one roof!
Hi Alex,
OMG!!! May the force be with you! I’ll be keeping positive thoughts that if you don’t score the house beds, you at least get the RV! Did you really say someone’s sleeping in a horse trailer? You have to come back now and let me know what happens. Maybe I’ll do a follow up blog about T-giving. Haha. Good luck! I’ll be thinking of you!
Hi Dee! Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful day! Stuffing makes me smile during Thanksgiving. As in stuffing my face with all the yummy food. 😉 That way I miss any family dysfunction because I’m busy eating. LOL
Hi Robin,
Happy Thanksgiving to you too! I think you have the best idea… just eat through the dysfunction. LOL. Love it! I’ll have to try it this year.
Our head count for Thanksgiving is still up in the air. It’s a minimum 13, maximum 21. I’m in denial a little bit that it’s next week already. I need more time! Tell Santa what I want for Christmas is another couple of weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
OMG. I couldn’t imagine 21! I’ll give Santa the message. But I’m in a worse hole because Hanukkah is DURING Thanksgiving. A once in a lifetime event. Won’t happen again for a thousand years or so. Craziness. BTW…Happy Birthday!!!