Happy Thanksgiving!!!

And to all those Vets who have ‘enjoyed’ this, and current military, LEOs, Fire/EMS on duty today. Thank you for your service.

Now there are rules… Here are the rules…

Dear Family,

Thanksgiving is still important to me. If being in my Last Will and Testament is important to you, then you might consider being with me for my favorite holiday. Dinner is at 2:00. Not 2:15. Not 2:05. Two. Arrive late and you get what’s left over.

The Red Table and the Blue Table rules will be enforced. The Blue Table is now located on the back porch this year.

Last year, that moron Marshall fried a turkey in one of those contraptions and practically burned the deck off the house. This year, the only peanut oil used to make the meal will be from the secret scoop of peanut butter I add to the carrot soup.

Jonathan, your last new wife was an idiot. You don’t arrive at someone’s house on Thanksgiving needing to use the oven and the stove. Honest to God, I thought you might have learned after two wives – date them longer and save us all the agony of another divorce.

Now, the house rules are slightly different This year because I have decided that 47% of you don’t know how to take care of nice things. Paper plates and red Solo cups might be bad for the environment, but I’ll be gone soon and that will be your problem to deal with.

House Rules:

1. The University of Texas no longer plays Texas A&M. The television stays off during the meal.

2. The “No cans for kids” rule still exists. We are using 2 liter Bottles because your children still open a third can before finishing the first two. Parents can fill a child’s cup when it is empty. All of the cups have names on them and I’ll be paying close attention to refills.

3. Zoe, remember last year when we were at Bill & Linda’s house I looked the other way when their Jell-O salad showed up. This year, if Jell-O salad comes out it will go right out the back door with the garbage. Linda should save yourself some time, she’s never been a good cook and she shouldn’t serve something that wiggles more than you. She should buy something from the bakery.

4. Grandmothers give grandchildren cookies and candy. That is a fact of life. Your children can eat healthy at your home. At my home, they can eat whatever they like as long as they finish it.

5. I cook with bacon and bacon grease. That’s nothing new. Your being   vegetarian doesn’t change the fact that stuffing without bacon is like egg salad without eggs. Even the green bean casserole has a little bacon grease in it. That’s why it tastes so good. Not eating bacon is just not natural. And as far as being healthy… look at me. I’ve outlived almost everyone I know.  

6. Salad at Thanksgiving is a waste of space.

7. I do not like cell phones. Leave them in the car. 

8. I do not like video cameras. There will be 32 people here. I am sure you can capture lots of memories without the camera pointed at me. 

9. Being parents means you have to actually pay attention to the kids. I have nice things and I don’t put them away just because your little terrorists will be in my house. Mary, watch your kids and I’ll watch my things.

10. Rhonda, a cat that requires a shot twice a day is a cat that has lived way too many lives. I think staying home to care for the cat is your way of letting me know that I have lived too many lives too. I can live with that. Can you? 

11. Words mean things. I say what I mean. Let me repeat: You don’t need to bring anything means you don’t need to bring anything. And if I did tell you to bring something, bring it in the quantity I said. Really, this doesn’t have to be difficult.

12. Domino’s and cards are better than anything that requires a battery or an on/off switch. That was true when you were kids and it’s true now that you have kids. 

13. Showing up for Thanksgiving guarantees presents at Christmas. Not showing up guarantees a card that may or may not be signed.

14. The election is over so stop calling him a Cheeto haired Nazi and I will do the same about the Muslim communist and his pet monkey. If we all stick to that, we’ll have a good time. If not, I’ll still have a good time but it will be at your expense.

In memory of your Grandmother, the back fridge will be filled with beer. Drink until it is gone. I prefer wine anyway. But one from each family needs to be the designated driver. 

I really mean all of the above.

Love You,
Grandpa

Now get yer butts off the computer and go enjoy your Thanksgiving wherever you may be! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Comments

Happy Thanksgiving!!! — 21 Comments

  1. I’m glad you lead with the most important item. Happy Thanksgiving to all those spending the day away from loved ones to keep us safe! Thank you.
    And I love the house rules…I may copy them and probably claim authorship ( with suitable mods and locally only!)I

  2. Happy Thanksgiving! Stay safe and enjoy this very American holiday!

  3. That sir is awesome and one of the reasons I count you as friend! Happy Thanksgiving!

  4. You had me laughing out loud here. Have a great holiday. Since I have the small house, I’ll be elsewhere for my meal and not have to deal with the cleanup. I’ll get to play with the grandkids as well.

  5. That is amazing. I love it. Mind if I shamelessly appropriate that?? Merry Thanksgiving.

  6. Those rules are also my rules…well written.

    And to those of us who recall a P-38 can opener and turkey loaf, extra love and good wishes.

    Happy Thanksgiving

  7. Hey Old NFO;

    That was pretty good rules, and Happy Thanksgiving from the southeastern part of the country.

  8. All- Thanks for the comments, now get off here and go enjoy family!

    Posted from my iPhone.

  9. Amen, and thanks. Daughter is cooking a first Thankgiving dinner for us, so we’re starting low and slow.

    Not quite the P-38, but I insist that young men either carry or have close to hand a bottle and can opener. They will be revered and the deep thinkers, because they give access to the goodness inside.

    Happy Thanksgiving to all.

  10. 14. The election is over so stop calling him a Cheeto haired Nazi and I will do the same about the Muslim communist and his pet monkey. If we all stick to that, we’ll have a good time. If not, I’ll still have a good time but it will be at your expense.

    LMAO

  11. I’ve been to that dinner. 🙂 Found a quiet corner and just ate. After all, a polite guest doesn’t refuse food when offered, and doesn’t drink the good stuff unless offered.

  12. I may or may not have stopped giggling over this post by the time turkey is served. If not, I’ll have to explain the post, meaning that I’ll have to read it to the family. Then, while they’re laughing, I get seconds.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, sir.

  13. The letter is a hoot, thanks for sharing, I’m so going to send it on! Have a Blessed Thanksgiving, Jim.

  14. Concentrating on my cousin’s adorable baby girl rather than politics made dinner go quite smoothly. 🙂

  15. Hi Jim, I’m a day late as usual. As regards the P-38 , when I was sent to Instructor school In Norva back in ’63 That little item is what I gave my 20 minute discourse on. I even passed, and to this day there is one hanging on my belt keychain, right next to my original dog tag from ’56!

    Hope you had a great day, I know I sure did!