We decided to get only a ten pounder or so this year (we always get a humongous gobbler and are eating turkey until Christmas). What we will wind up with when we get to the store we shall see (we both always want to buy far more than we need).
Will buy it tomorrow and let it thaw in the fridge.
Absolutely agree with the posters who say a 16 pound bird or so in the fridge will not thaw in in three days. Why we are told that they will, I am not sure. Perhaps the folks that tell us that have a fridge warmer than we keep ours (we keep them on the cold side) or maybe it is worry about liability ("I thawed it for four days, your Honor, and m'whole family came down with the most awful disorder, and the kids willl never be the same").
If it thaws early, as Andy said, a day or two in the fridge will not hurt it.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.