We always have it also and now I have moved it along to a few others, but I had never heard of anyone else having this for Thanksgiving and had no idea they might be common.
Of course I am a native Texan now living in the Northwest where no one has ever had grits to start with. 
Pepin’s Pumpkin Gratin is also very good. It is a really surprising dish as most people have never eaten pumpkin as a savory food, and it tastes nothing like the pie.
oyster stuffing/dressing is awesome if you use fresh, not canned, oysters.