Desperate Turkeys

Two weeks ago, I bought a frozen Butterball turkey. If I buy it, I figured, they will come for dinner.

Two weeks ago, the pleas from the various caterers I work with began in earnest:

“$25 bonus to the first three servers who will work a Thanksgiving dinner in Delray.”

“Extra $20 to anyone who can tend bar on Thanksgiving in Lighthouse Point.”

Tempting, but I had this turkey in the freezer….

A week ago, friends I’ve known for a quarter century announced they’d bought an RV and their first stop was my house for Thanksgiving, if that was okay. Okay? Hardly. Incredibly wonderful? Absolutely.

A week ago, the pleas from my caterers had dwindled to a handful of freaking-out-because-I-am-serving-30-for-dinner requests:

“Cash plus 20 percent gratuity to work Thanksgiving.”

“Gas money plus extra cash tips to serve Thanksgiving dinner north of West Palm.”

Again, tempting, but I had this turkey thawing in the fridge now, and my friends were coming….

Today, as I baked my third gluten-free pie and hoped for the best taste-wise, I got a call from one caterer:

“She’s willing to pay three servers $100 each on top of the gratuity to serve dinner tomorrow. Is there any way you can do it?”

Wow. Seriously tempting, but my turkey is thawed, my house is filled with the wafting scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. And a few more friends say they might stop by….

“I’m sorry,” I told him. “I would, but I’m cooking at home.”

“I know, I understand,” he sighed. “It’s a day for family.”

This year, my Thanksgiving family consists of six good friends, my great guy, possibly a second cousin from Mr. RG’s side of his family and said cousin’s girlfriend because they just moved here and I’m it for their SoFla family ties, along with my two Boston Terriers, three Cavalier King Spaniels and one Springer Spaniel. A bartender from work might also show up.

I wouldn’t pass up the first Thanksgiving dinner that I’ve cooked in years to serve dinner to strangers, regardless of how high the ante is raised.

It’s a day for family, and although I will miss RG Daughter and RG Son this year, I am so very thankful for the family joining me in my home tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving.