Positive Aspects of a Smaller and Socially Distant Thanksgiving!

– News covered by Quincy Quarry News.

Quincy Quarry food critic Julie Child is good with a knife.  REALLY good …
A Quincy Quarry News staff member photo

There are positive aspects of a smaller and socially distant Thanksgiving this year.

Honest!

Quincy Quarry News has reviewed the Center for Diseases Control’s recommendations for hosting socially distant holiday gatherings during the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In turn, and as the ever-growing legions of loyal Quincy Quarry readers can only expect, the Quarry news crew came up with a few useful more suggestions for those who are desperately in need of tips on how to endeavor to beneficially host socially distant holiday season gatherings.

Overall, the consensus in the Quincy Quarry newsroom and especially that of Julie Child, the Quarry’s head chef on its culinary desk, is unanimous that there is much to be said about opting for smaller Thanksgiving dinner gatherings.

Bugger off Gordon
Image via People Magazine

For starters, the CDC’s recommendation to go small this year can only make things easier for the cook. 

For example, not having to make room to put out Aunt Eunice’s old family recipe bean salad that not even she likes as she did not make the cut for an invitation.

That and also making things easier on the clean up crew and who all too often is also at least primarily the cook

And unarguably the most beneficial of all going away: going smaller this holiday season offers the opportunity to not only trim the invitation list and so help dodge dealing with those who are not enjoyable to deal with, doing so also offers a great way to head off heated exchanges over politics hard upon this year’s still contentious election.

Seating two right next to the curb …
Image via The Register Guard

And as for dealing with those whom not inviting is unfortunately not an option, CDC’s holiday social distancing protocols offer ample opportunities for creative as well as highly effective distant dinner seating plans. 

For example, assigning bombastic and heavy drinking Uncle Bernie at a table somewhere socially distant in the yard with incessant scold, meal critic, and all-around rhymes with witch Aunt Sabrina.

That and then hope for simultaneous mutual fratricide.

One for the road and see you next year …
A Maker’s Mark image

Additionally, while staging pre and post dining activities outside may increase the intake of high octane hot toddies, spending a fair amount of time spent outside in the cold will surely encourage at least some attendees to head home earlier than usual.

Just be sure to check that your home owner insurance policy includes considerable social host liability coverage, if not also increase it just to be on the safe side.

Fasten your helmet – company is coming!
A Google daily doodle image

That AND be sure to have lined up ready access to cabs and/or ride sharing services in advance.

Also note that paying for the car fare home for those guests too full of holiday cheer could prove to be a bargain over the long haul given that at least some so sent home might end up feeling too ashamed to show up ever again other than to collect their cars the next day.

In short, crib a well-proven strategy from both holiday season football games as well as regular ones: a solid offensive game plan makes for a great defense on game day.

QQ disclaimer