When I was single, and working for the country club, I had to work Thanksgiving. We would put on an impressive spread for about 200 people. Once I got out from work, I would either go to my parent's, or my sister's, and enjoy a quiet evening meal with them. Of course, I was given lots of leftovers to eat at home.
When I moved up north to MI, the first Thanksgiving there, I had off, and my MIL insisted on cooking. She cooked all day long. I don't remember all the sides. That following Christmas, I cooked, and put out more dishes than she did, in only 4 hours, using the same equipment. I think I ticked her off.
After that, I started working for a country club in MI. Again, I had to work. So, my other half and my MIL would cook Thanksgiving dinner.
Now that I'm back down in OK, I'm again working at the country I worked at before, and again, I have to work Thanksgiving. It's basically understood in my family that I have to work, and now that I have kids of my own, we generally won't be getting around much to see relatives, although we will call.
There is a bit of culture-shock between me and my other half. I expect a roasted Turkey, mashed taters, turkey gravy, cornbread dressing, maybe some long-grain-and-wild rice mix, green beans (NOT the casserole), maybe some corn, rolls, and the obligatory pies, usually pumpkin and pecan. Peppa, my other half, expects a turkey stuffed with bread stuffing (which I refuse to touch, as it's cooked inside the bird), mashed taters, green beans with cream of mushroom soup mix in (but not the casserole), turkey gravy, and I forget what else. She usually BUYS a couple apple and a couple pumpkin pies, and maybe a couple cherry pies as well. I prefer to make mine from scratch.
We don't decorate the house or the table with a centerpiece or anything. The kids would destroy it in a few hours anyway.
PeppA and my MIL will watch football. I usually bury my head in the internet or go find a good book, as I can't stand, nor will I support, pro sports.
Forgot to add: I prefer to make a cranberry sauce or chutney from scratch. The rest of the family wants that junky canned goo.
