How to Make a Kick-Ass ‘Friendship’
So, you can’t go home for Thanksgiving. Tough break. Instead of drowning your sorrows in booze while you eat your tear-spiced lunch in the microwave, get people together for Friends Day. Anyway, this is probably better than a real Thanksgiving with the family.
Put Feeler, then send invitations
Before you get too excited, see if you have friends who can actually do it and are willing to make a commitment. Emphasis on the latter. Chances are good that you know people who are in the same boat as you, but it’s wise to send a subtler text or group message as soon as possible. No need to show despair, just say something like:
Hi guys, I’m thinking about having a Friends Day. If you are not leaving town for a holiday and want to celebrate this event with friends, let me know!
If people respond, send out some real invitations with times, places, and more information about what we’re going to discuss.
Organize a lunchtime dinner style
Your mom may have made cooking Thanksgiving dinner like a piece of cake, but that’s not entirely true. You cannot do this alone. Okay, maybe it will work, but not necessarily! In your invitations, ask everyone to bring one already prepared (I can’t stress enough that it is enough) dish and one drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic, of their choice).
This is ideal for a group of friends who have a variety of dietary restrictions, drinks and food preferences. If there is something specific that someone absolutely needs, he is responsible for it. For example, I don’t like homemade cranberry sauce. I refuse to eat this. I only need canned food. So I always bring it on Friendsgiving, even if someone brings a homemade version. And if no one wants to cook a whole turkey or a large batch of mashed potatoes, take a more convenient approach to all the classics. Thanksgiving is known as the biggest meal of the year, but it can also be a good and varied meal .
Finally, someone – whoever is the worst chef in the group – should be in charge of providing disposable plates, utensils, and trays instead of a plate. I know it’s bad for the environment, but only do it once. Say that you are grateful to Mother Earth and she will forgive you. There is no need to summon them, just offer the role to anyone interested and someone will bite. Instead of a drink, the same person brings several ice packs. The idea is not to be the only one doing anything , be it food, drink or general meal preparation.
Make it a party, not a meal
Look, you are with your friends now. You don’t have to wear the sweater Aunt Marie gave you, say goodbye at the dinner table before trying the filling, or talk about the same memories over and over if you don’t want to. Let your hair down, have a strong drink and cheer everyone up.
Put everything on the plates and let people eat what they want, when they want. Use the dining table as a buffet and let people eat in the living room, patio, or anywhere other than the dining table decorated with autumn shit. Prepare a playlist for the party and start playing when people come (you can request songs in your invitation). Then, when people have time to eat and drink, quit a few games or put on a bad movie. If necessary, offer a place to sleep for those desperate to take a nap.
Share your traditions and create new ones
Thanksgiving is all about tradition, but also Thanksgiving. My friends and I enjoy doing classic “what are we grateful for” things, but we also talk about traditions that we had in the past when we really had time to be with our family and free time was not an issue. Tell stories, talk about the good old days, and share the little things that have always made Thanksgiving special for you. All it takes is one good story about your crazy grandma to make everyone feel right at home.
While you’re at it, do something to make Thanksgiving special. Start a tradition with friends that you can carry on for the next, as life will only get more complicated and loaded. For example, my friends and I like to play old music videos with memories of jams and talk about them, or put on a bad movie and make jokes, and take a long walk after meals to help with digestion … and buy more booze.
Coordinate cleaning
When the dust settles, there will be a huge mess and a lot of cleaning work. Whatever you do, don’t let – I repeat – don’t let everyone ignore it. If everyone steps in and does one thing, your home will look better than it did before they arrived.
The trick is to get people to work before the party starts. You can even create a registration list in your invitation. Someone is cleaning the trash, someone is washing the cups, someone is wiping tables, counters, etc. Distribute the work evenly, and you will do it quickly. The only thing you have to be responsible for is general cleaning of your house after everything has been disheveled and moved. Again, you don’t have to do anything alone throughout this experience. If you and your friends can handle it, you will never want to go home again.