Every Thanksgiving my mother enthusiastically suggests that we make ham this year instead of turkey. At which I respond, “but I don’t like ham, I never have”. My mother lets out an exasperated sigh and says, “okay, I’ll make a small turkey too”. As a family grows there are always more considerations to be made. During the holiday time these types of accommodations can reach a fever pitch. I find myself having conversations like this:

Me: Let’s make a turkey AND a ham
Mother: Okay, but don’t forget that Sharon is a vegetarian so we need to make extra side dishes
Me: Won’t we have the normal ones?
Mother: Yes, but I also think she is some sort of strange vegan where she doesn’t eat dairy either so I think the mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes don’t count.
Me: Ugh, fine, we’ll make an extra batch of green beans AND a side salad
Mother: Do you know if Bob is coming this year? because I don’t think he and Tammy are talking since last Easter when he said something about her sister.
Me: Well, they can build a bridge and get over it or not come
Mother: You can’t be like that – we’ll just seat them separately
Me: Don’t forget to move the beer bottles into the basement since Amy is now “on-the-wagon” and we don’t want to tempt her
Mother: Does this mean that Dad’s egg nog is out of the question?
Me: I have no idea – does that count as drinking? How much rum is in it?
Mother: Oy, okay and should we buy a small TV so Alan and Steve can watch the game during dinner or do you think they should just sit in the living room?
Me: I think they should be glad they are getting dinner since they never talk to anybody anyways.

Families are filled with freaks. Each family is like your own personal circus filled with every oddity from the car full of clowns to the Fat Lady, from the Ring Leader to the Lion Tamer. Individually they are all nice people with whom we share a common history but during the holidays they amass, prop up the tent and open all three rings.

And yet we yearn for the freak show. This group of crazies provides us with comfort, security and the knowledge that we do not stand alone in our OWN freakness. We are not spectators at this circus – no, we are a part of it. We love the freak show, we love the freaks, they are us and we are them.

A “tip-of-the-hat” to Scribbit for the post idea as I toss my post into the “ring” for this month’s “Write-Away Contest”.