Thanksgiving - wasn't quite what I was planning...

Well, we all spent Thanksgiving together, my sons and their significant others and D.  I cooked and cooked for 2 days.  I wanted everything to be perfect.

This would be the first time J&J would meet D so I was a little nervous.   They arrived & brought their dog - who is a bit rambunctious. 

After a while I noticed that D wasn't being his normal jovial self.  Actually, he was noticeably angry... the tone of his voice wasn't the norm.  So I emailed to ask what was wrong & here is the answer I got:  "Did you notice how several people were touching the dogs and didn't wash there hands but was helping you setting up dishes on the table. That was grounds enough for me to leave. I Stood right there and watched them pet the dogs and no one washed there hands, just before you asked your daughter in law to try something she stuck her hands in your pan and picked the food. At that rate I'll say no thank you! Have you noticed I won't eat anything else."

I hadn't noticed & really didn't know how to respond.  I have a few thoughts - such as "what were they thinking" and "why did they have to bring the dog to Thanksgiving since they know the dog is really still a puppy" and "why didn't he say something"  For heaven's sake, he would not have had to scream or yell--- he could have just said "hey guys, wash your hands before touching the food, or setting the table" or whatever the 'norm' would be to handle such a situation.

Well anyway, after dinner he seemed to calm down - the tone in his voice went back to the 'regular' tone so we laughed & talked with the kids.  We played Wii and talked and he asked me to come work on flying the simulator for his helicopter - which was fun & an unexpected surprise since he usually doesn't ask me to work on the simulator - it's something he does alone.  He wouldn't play the Wii though (we played right after dinner so I think he was still mad).

After dinner was over, we did have a good time, but I was really bummed because I worked so hard on the dinner & wanted everyone to rave & they didn't.  Between the dogs and his mood, there was tension in the room.  :-(

Then to make matters worse, I ate too much of the mac & cheese & a sliver of cheesecake & so my stomach started to ache!    

This was definitely not the Thanksgiving I was dreaming of...BUT, I did make the best of it.  And I think D did as well.  All things considered, I would probably do it differently, if I had to do it again.  My fear, of course, is that the Js got a bad first impression of D - which isn't good because my kids as so important to me.  But maybe I'm borrowing trouble, because D left first and neither J or his wife said anything bad; however they didn't comment at all - which might not be good either.  Yes, I am over thinking this, & consequently borrowing trouble.  Seems I haven't learned the lessons of my mom or my aunt just yet. 

Oh well - on that note, I am going to take M some cheesecake.  It actually turned out quite well... not quite NY style - but VERY close!

Lady Bug