Things don’t always go according to plan on Thanksgiving Day. Entrees are forgotten in the fridge, new recipes don’t work out, and sometimes those turkeys take longer to cook. The food, the family, the travel, the emotion, and now 2020 has brought an additional element to feel stress and anxiety as Thanksgiving Day is nearing.
Thanksgiving is the day when we feel most grateful for the blessings in our lives. Some residents have not seen extended family for months. Thanksgiving conjures up pictures of big happy reunions but how safe is to make it a reality?
Todd Kane said, “Like most other Del Webb residents, the Kane’s 2020 Thanksgiving plans have gone off the rails. It’s worth noting that our Thanksgiving dinners have been anything but traditional for the past 10 years or so.”’
Kane’s family 10 years ago started celebrating Thanksgiving early to alleviate the travel concerns, making it easier for all the family located in different parts of the country.
What are his plans for this year?
Kane said, “For 2020, we are postponing our early Thanksgiving and planning on a late Thanksgiving in 2021. This year, Karen and I will enjoy a menu of favorites including shrimp, Maryland-style crab cakes, lots of appetizers, and a few extra desserts including cheesecake. I doubt a turkey will show up.”
Other residents have also curtailed large family celebrations.
Bonnie Crane said, “Such a dilemma. My house is small and I am afraid distancing will be an issue.”
Another resident, Adrianne Kaplan said, “Since my daughter’s house has stairs in the front, stairs in the back, and stairs in from the garage and because of my immobility, there is no other option. Just Bob and me at home. He’s going to fry a turkey. I had my first fried turkey in Arizona last Thanksgiving, awesome! We’ve already planned our menu.”
Other residents are leaning toward staying at home.
Lori Lindahl said, “We have chosen to not see or host family. It will just be my husband and me at home.
Marcia Kmet said, “The first year we are not getting together with family. It going to be sad but there are too many people. Better safe than sorry”
Grandkids add fun and festivity to the holiday even when sitting at the kids’ table. Shirley Kroot usually goes to her son and daughter-in-law’s house to celebrate the Holiday with family.
Kroot said, “We’ve never had anything like this to contend with before. I will miss spending it with my family, especially the grandkids, but it will probably be only three of us this year at my home.”
A few residents feel comfortable being with family members.
Cindy Ptak said, “We’ll be at our daughter’s house, but she has a large home and there will only be eight of us.”
Some residents are hoping to have some social distancing and still have family present.
Barb Marson said, “Ten here. Son and family and daughter and family. Four at a table, four at a table, and two at a table. Social distance by family.”
Shirley Plocinski said “We will be traveling back to Sun City from Tucson Arizona to have Thanksgiving dinner at my daughter’s home in Geneva. There will be 11 of us. I will get to Illinois on Tuesday in time to make my 50+ year recipe for stuffing and my daughter and daughter-in-law will do the rest of the cooking. There will be wine and games and fun as two grandkids travel from college to celebrate the day with three of our other grandkids. We have been very careful during this pandemic but have found it necessary for our mental health to spend time with about eight friends and immediate family.”
Technology is playing a role in Thanksgiving this year also.
Stacey Magnusson said, “My only relatives live in Wisconsin. So, I will be doing a FaceTime Thanksgiving over the Internet with them. Why bother to cook a turkey, I’ll probably just make a turkey sandwich.”
Audrey Jakoubek said, “We did this for Easter. Our three families sat together at a designated time and indulged in our traditional foods. Never, in a million years would I have guessed, we would be doing this for Thanksgiving, six months later.”
