Given that most of you will likely be interacting with family and friends on Thanksgiving Day, I thought I would offer some "how to" tips on getting along with your dinner companions:
- Be nice. Getting along with people is not rocket science. If you're coming across as cold, snobby, and unwilling to engage in a conversation, you'll most likely be sitting by yourself watching some bad football game.
- Have a glass of wine. I'm not advocating funneling a bottle of Cote du Rhone, but grab a glass of wine when you arrive and it will help you engage people in conversation and just make you feel relaxed.
- Dress nice. Everyone likes being around people who look good, so keep your jeans and the 30 year old wool sweater in the closet and put on a nice pair of pants and dress shirt. It also tells the Thanksgiving Day crowd that you acknowledge the holiday and are ready to celebrate or give thanks!
- Bring something to dinner. Not only will your host appreciate a nice bottle of wine, a fruit platter, or a home made pie, but, again, the gesture will signal to the dinner table that you are excited about the holiday and ready to have a good time.
If you hate Thanksgiving, then I can't help you, but it tends to be once of the nicer holidays of the season so enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
You're crazy about not allowing jeans! You have to be comfortable if you are going to eat all that yummy food! If I had it my way, I'd show up in my sweats!
Dear Erin,
Thank you for posting. I'm assuming you look great in sweats ; - ) , so I'll make an exception for you on the no jeans rule.
Vince
You know who else didn't allow jeans at the Thanksgiving dinner table...Mussolini. You're in good company Vin.
I can't beleive you are comparing my jean rule to something Mussolini would do! ; - ) You know I have hair and Mussolini did not!
Vin
Well now, you have to draw the line between your fancy jeans and your painting jeans, I think. And I fully support the fancy jeans/dress shirt combination.
But more important is your drink a glass of wine rule (I admit to drinking a few more than that, though.)
What about Stretchy Pants?!