# Thanksgiving alone **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 23, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485 "2005-11-23T21:41:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/21 "2005-11-24T04:53:22Z")
I happened to leave work today at the same time as a co-worker I’ve been bonding with at our weekly poker games, and found out that he’ll be working tomorrow and Friday. I asked if he celebrates Thanksgiving, and he said he does but that his kids are out of town with his ex (I knew he had kids, but didn’t know they didn’t live with him). I said, “But didn’t you just get married?” and he said, “Yeah … that’s kind of falling apart.” :eek: :smack: ☹ He said he got married 12 weeks ago, and 5 weeks into it they realized they’d made a mistake and that things weren’t going to work out. So between dealing with the fallout of his second failed marriage and the fact that his kids will be far away, he just didn’t see the point of celebrating the holiday. I live 3 miles from the office, and I’ve never done anything like this before but I have it in the back of my mind to send him an e-mail tomorrow and invite him to come by at 2pm for dinner (it’ll just be me, my mom, my brother, and an old friend of the family). I’d warn him up front about the particular brand of dysfunction that is my family, and could ask him to grab the Scrabble game that I accidentally left in my office and bring it with him. You know what, I think I will. He probably won’t accept, but if I don’t invite him I think I’ll wind up wishing I did. He seems like a good guy, and if he doesn’t want to be at work or at home tomorrow he should know that he’s welcome somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/22 "2005-11-24T09:36:14Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I’ll be spending Christmas alone too. > [@PapSett](#): > > I have been depressed beyond words this week. I am so dreading the next few weeks. Christmas will be pretty much the same . Most days I would just rather not even wake up. I think we need to do a “Home Alone on Christmas” thread/virtual Dopefest for those of us spending pre-Boxing Day on the lonesome. I’ll bake an apple pie and make some roasted garlic mashed potatoes with rosemary and sage, and maybe roast Cornish hen with grilled asparagus. Who’s going to rent _It’s a Wonderful Life_ so we can all heckle Jimmy Stewart for not taking the Potter contract and getting the wife and kids the hell out of that dead-end town? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/23 "2005-11-24T09:49:07Z")
My daughter will be with her Father until Sunday. I’ll be alone on Thanksgiving as I was last year. I really don’t mind much. I went to the store tonight and bought 2 really nice steaks which I will share with my doggies. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving everyone. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/24 "2005-11-24T09:58:00Z")
When I first moved to Europe, I spent many a Thanksgiving and Christmas, alone, practically broke, and in a small, cold apartment. To be honest, it didn’t really bother me then. Might sound cold and heartless, but sometimes you need to feel the spirit in your own way. It made me realize what was important and it makes me realize how lucky I am now. Do I want to re-live those times? No. But it did make me realize I was only alone because I put myself in that position. I learned to get out of the house. On that cheery sentiment, I wish all of you who are alone - by circumstances that may be out of your control, a Happy Thanksgiving! At least you don’t have Aunt Ruth asking, “so when ya gonna get married?” ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/25 "2005-11-24T13:39:21Z")
I’m happily alone on Thanksgiving, just the way I planned it. Later on I’ll go catch a movie or two. I just wish more stores were open today, because I’m really in the mood for shopping. I avoid all forms of family like the plague around Thanksgiving and especially Christmas. I go visit them in the summertime when there are no holidays to make everything awkward, and I don’t have to buy gifts for people I don’t know at all\* and nobody pressures me to eat until I’m sick and eat stuff I don’t even like. I’m on call for work today and I’ll be on call on Christmas. \*Not that I don’t want to buy gifts, it’s just that how can I possibly delight someone with a present when I don’t know anything at all about that person? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/26 "2005-11-24T14:37:00Z")
I’m going to be totally alone this Thanksgiving, for the first time ever, and I’m LOVING it. I had been hauled through heavy traffic both ways to my ex-girlfriend’s brother’s house for past five Thanksgivings, sometimes hauling my kids along, but we broke up in the early spring, and my oldest (who isn’t speaking to me) is in college and my younger one is with her Mom this year, and I’m without other family within 2000 miles, so I’m alone. I’m going to have the best time. I’m going to eat what I like, I’m going to watch football on TV as much or as little as I like, I’m going to take a nap when I like–what a joy it is to have some time to myself, and not to have to accomodate others for once. Everyone should have one day per year where they’re completely isolated. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/27 "2005-11-24T14:45:53Z")
Yeah, I’m alone too today. But my folks were here over this past weekend for a mini-family reunion and a few other things, so I’ll let that count as Thanksgiving, and today will just be a bonus day off. Woohoo! ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/28 "2005-11-24T15:00:35Z")
Those who will be alone and are happy about it: I’m happy for you. (I won’t be alone, though sometimes I wish I were. Is killing family members on Thanksgiving considered a crime?) But, for those alone who don’t want to be – why not put out the effort and find someone(s) else in the same circumstances? The year after college, when I was working a really crappy job, I couldn’t afford to go home. After getting more and more depressed over that, I had the bright idea to collect some more strays around me. I posted a message on a local BBS (yes, I’m that old) inviting anyone and everyone to a potluck get-together. The only rule: you were NOT supposed to bring anything that counted as ‘traditional Thanksgiving’ fare. I ended up with 14 people crammed into my apartment. We had pizza and potato salad and chinese takeout and oreos and meatballs and a whole mish-mash of other stuff. We ate, and laughed and played frisbee (outside!) and after some of the people had left settled in for a night of card games and weird left overs. It was, truly, the most enjoyable Thanksgiving I ever spent. Anyway… all I’m saying is, if you don’t want to be alone, instead of pouting that no one has invited you, be the someone who invites others who would also be alone. Yes, it’s too late (probably) to do the turkey roast. Who cares? A bucket of fried chicken and pleasant company is a huge step up from self-pity. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/29 "2005-11-24T15:18:54Z")
When I was younger, I never understood that old canard about people being depressed over the holidays. But a couple of years ago, my father died right before Christmas. I won’t be alone this year, I’m married and have a ginormous family. But the sparkle has definitely gone out of the holidays. My best wishes to all of you. (If anyone’s in Ohio, drive over. My family is loud and conservative, though, so wear clothes and earmuffs. :D) ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/30 "2005-11-24T15:53:47Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Anyway… all I’m saying is, if you don’t want to be alone, instead of pouting that no one has invited you, be the someone who invites others who would also be alone. Yes, it’s too late (probably) to do the turkey roast. Who cares? A bucket of fried chicken and pleasant company is a huge step up from self-pity. Sometimes things are not as easy as they look to someone standing on the outside looking in. I _did_ invite friends over, and every last one of them turned my invitation down. Every. Last. One. One even told me a blatant, out and out lie to avoid coming over. What am I supposed to do? Force them to share the day? So I have turkey and dressing in the oven, fresh cranberries chilling in the fridge , and I will be spending a lot of time either reading or playing on the computer. I will be surprised if my phone even rings. Self pity? No , just a fact of life. I am thankful that I have my dogs and cats to spend time with today; they are always here for me no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/31 "2005-11-24T16:20:02Z")
I’ll be spending it dishing up food for the homeless. After that I’ll enjoy the solitude. I’m reminded by this thread of a heartbreaking song: [Christmas at Denny’s](http://www.delusionresistance.org/christian/stonehill/stories/stories12.html) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/32 "2005-11-24T16:25:25Z")
I’m here alone, but attended a family wedding on the 20th. We had a lot of meals together so I considered that my Thanksgiving. I’m making duck, spuds, stuffing, salad and pumpkin cheesecake. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/33 "2005-11-24T18:20:55Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > When I was younger, I never understood that old canard about people being depressed over the holidays. But a couple of years ago, my father died right before Christmas. My mother’s husband died New Year’s Eve 2003. I’ve already mentioned my fiancée changing her mind the first week of last January, and my mom who died the following month. > [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > I think we need to do a “Home Alone on Christmas” thread/virtual Dopefest for those of us spending pre-Boxing Day on the lonesome. I’ll bake an apple pie and make some roasted garlic mashed potatoes with rosemary and sage, and maybe roast Cornish hen with grilled asparagus. As I said, I’ll be alone for Christmas. Still, I plan to cook prime rib and Yorkshire pudding, with boiled red potatoes and something green. I’ll be eating it for a week, but this is what I always make at Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/34 "2005-11-24T18:47:26Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > As I said, I’ll be alone for Christmas. Still, I plan to cook prime rib and Yorkshire pudding, with boiled red potatoes and something green. I’ll be eating it for a week, but this is what I always make at Christmas. What, a traditional Yorkshire meal with no turnips? How the mighty British Empire has fallen! Tell me at least that the prime rib will be bone in and served with an overaged cab sav with Cherry Flambeaux for desert. 😉 Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/35 "2005-11-24T19:02:56Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > What, a traditional Yorkshire meal with no turnips? How the mighty British Empire has fallen! Tell me at least that the prime rib will be bone in and served with an overaged cab sav with Cherry Flambeaux for desert. 😉 > > Stranger As a (native, but former) Californian I didn’t know it was a ‘traditional Yorkshire meal’. I don’t know if I’ve ever had turnips! Anyway, there’s already the Yorkshire pudding and the potatoes so I don’t need turnips too. But yes, the prime rib will have the bones in if I can get it. (CostCo usually has it with the bones. Great for BBQ ribs, BTW.) I’ve a case of ‘Two-Buck Chuck’ Cabernet Sauvignon, so I guess that’s what I’ll be drinking with it. Since I’m cooking for myself, there will be no dessert. FWIW the rib will be seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary and will be eaten with horseradish. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/36 "2005-11-24T20:05:41Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I don’t know if I’ve ever had turnips! You’re not missing anything. But the Limes like to boil all sorts of roots together, so you usually get potatoes, parsnips, and turnips. Personally, I think you’re better off with just the potatoes and a little fresh chopped parsley. Sounds like a traditional meal to me. I’ll reserve my wine snob sensibilities (such as they are) about the Chuck, and wish you a delicious Christmas meal. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/37 "2005-11-24T20:52:53Z")
I decided to go with the TV dinner tonight. The only cranberry sauce they had was in the 16oz. tin. I don’t know what I’ll do with most of it. I got some Longboard Lager, but I’ll have wine with dinner. And there’s Pepperidge Farms raspberry turnovers for dessert. I also donated five bucks to the local food bank. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/38 "2005-11-24T21:06:29Z")
Today is a nice catch-up day, although I wanted to do some outside stuff. It’s windy and cold, so to hell with that. Proposals, filing, and general domestic duties. Whee! ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/39 "2005-11-24T21:35:23Z")
I’m alone today. My friend’s boyfriend, who doesn’t like me, changed their plans without telling her, leaving me in the lurch. All my recipes will go untested another year. I had already bought the duck, though, so I’m gonna roast that for myself, and do some nice fruits and veggies so at least my bird can eat with me too. ---
**Author:** ![Corporate\_Hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@Corporate\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corporate_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485/40 "2005-11-24T21:54:44Z")
I’m in the computer lab working on a 3D animation project for school for Thanksgiving this year, but I’m not alone: my friend Seth is here too. Everyone else we know went home to eat and be with their families; we figured this break would be a good time to get some work done. The two of us just got done eating some delicious hot turkey hoagies from Wawa, and we’re making good progress on our project. It’s not an ideal Thanksgiving, but I’ve done Thanksgiving alone before and this year beats it with a stick. Oh actually, I have some photos of the year I spent Thanksgiving alone: [These](http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~pjk27/images/TG1.jpg) are just [some](http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~pjk27/images/TG2.jpg) of the [things](http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~pjk27/images/TG3.jpg) I did to keep myself occupied while alone in the apartment. [Here](http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~pjk27/images/TG4.jpg), being alone for the holidays was starting to get me a little down. Eventually I cheered up though, and ended up having a pretty [Happy Thanksgiving](http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~pjk27/images/TG5.jpg). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanksgiving-alone/332485.md?page=3)