Seaside Perfection…

A perfect autumn day by the sea (Wildwood, NJ 2024)

With one week (and counting) to go, have we got our lists set for crafting the perfect Thanksgiving? Well, throw that list out! Can we all agree that no matter how much planning we do, the dictionary’s definition of “perfect” will have no place at our dinner tables? The turkey may be slightly overcooked, the side dishes can’t all be hot at the same time (if they can, please advise), the smoke detector may announce itself at an inconvenient time, the pumpkin pie (while still delicious) may get knocked over the overcrowded counter and later that same day we may remember we never put the cranberry sauce on the dinner table!

Isn’t a bit of chaos a part of the tradition, signifying the most thankful (and busiest) day of the year? (unless you’re a laid-back guest…then act accordingly) As we stroll through this all-important prep week, let’s slow down (even if just for a sec) and appreciate those inevitable bumps on the road to giving thanks. Let’s find our peace before the pumpkin pie, trusting that everything is as it should be (dry turkey and all).

Finally, remember what the great George Bernard Shaw once declared, “A happy family is but an earlier heaven,” and enjoy those unplanned, perfectly imperfect moments with the ones we love, sure to add the best seasoning to our Heavenly celebration…