My family and I were going to spend a quiet Thanksgiving at home. My husband Dan and I planned a simple but tasty meal for Emma and Jake, our two kids. Dan, on the other hand, had other ideas. Before I knew it, our cosy home had turned into a crazy hub of activity.
Twenty-five of Dan’s coworkers showed up at our house without being asked. They brought wine and snacks as gifts. To put it mildly, I was shocked. The kitchen had been my domain all morning, but all of a sudden, strangers were there, ready to help.
I have to say that my first response was not exactly friendly. In fact, I was boiling over. Why did Dan treat me this way? He must not have known how much work it was to get ready for Thanksgiving. But as I looked around at all the eager faces, I knew I had to be in charge.
Take a deep breath, put on your best “hostess with the mostest” smile, and start giving out jobs. “Jim, could you mash these potatoes please?” Sarah, could you please set the table?” Each person was given a job to do to help get things ready, and so it went.
As the afternoon went on, the chaos started to go away and was replaced by a spirit of teamwork and friendship. Once a battlefield, the kitchen was now a hub of activity, with everyone working together to make a Thanksgiving feast that would be remembered for a long time.
There were still times when things were a mess, though. Someone dropped cranberry sauce on the floor, and someone else added twice as much sugar to the sweet potatoes by accident. I stayed cool and led my group of helpers with a firm but gentle hand through it all.
The moment of truth had finally come. We all sat down to a beautiful feast, where every dish was made and served perfectly. Looking around the table made me feel proud and like I had done a good job. There would never be another Thanksgiving like this one. It was the most memorable and maybe even the most hectic holiday meal ever.
When we were done with cake and starting to clean up, I couldn’t help but feel happy. Dan’s unexpected guests were a good thing in the end because they gave us a sense of community and teamwork that we would not have had otherwise.
As for Dan, well, let’s just say he learnt a good lesson about how important it is to talk to your spouse. He turned to me and said, “You were amazing today.” We were sitting on the couch later that night, drinking tea and talking about the day. I’m sorry I brought all of those people up on you.”
I smiled because I felt like I could forgive them. “Remember this the next time you want to invite your whole office to Thanksgiving,” I said in a light-hearted way.
I had to laugh because Dan looked so shocked. I put my head on his shoulder and said, “Let’s hope there’s no next time.”
So, our crazy Thanksgiving was over. It was a day that we will always remember as an example of how important it is to work together, be kind, and forgive others.
