As I travel to North Carolina for a holiday weekend with a new group of folks who I conduct business with. I am grateful to be participating as a guest, and am reminded once again as we all should be on how to conduct ourselves properly for the holidays.
As a Guest:
RSVP. Let your host know right away if you can come or not. If you received a “family” invitation, let him know how many of you can come. Don’t show up with uninvited guests. There is usually room for one more at Thanksgiving, but this is something you must discuss with your host ahead of time.
Offer to contribute to the meal – but don’t dictate the menu. Your best bet is to make your offer open-ended and follow your host’s direction. If you or your ‘party’’ have special dietary needs, it is very gracious to offer to bring a dish that meets those needs. “Grace is a vegetarian (I’m really not)– I’d love to bring a delicious tofu dish if that’s OK with you.”
Dress appropriately. At the very least, clean and pressed. As a true sign of consideration, dress one notch up. Your hosts are probably going all out, and your attire can either say, “I appreciate the effort you are making for all of us,” or “I thought you were ordering take out.”
Arrive on time. Yes, it is a day of feasting, but that turkey is going to be done at some point and your hosts are trying to plan around that magic moment. If you arrive late, don’t expect anyone to wait for you.
Offer to help with the clean-up. Family or non-family, this is one day where it is a great idea to pitch in.
Avoid controversial or painful family subjects. This is a day to be together in a spirit of generosity and thankfulness for all you do have. Let it be just that.
Leave on time. If you are a houseguest, stick to the agreed begin and end times of your visit.
Say thank you. A phone call or, better yet, a hand-written note of thanks to your hosts shows your appreciation for all their hard work.
A Safe and Happy Thanksgiving to all from the Tilted Nose!
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