AI Can’t Cook

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday

Three more hours till our sons are home from New York! I bought the Thanksgiving groceries on Sunday along with a million other Austin HEB fans (IYKYK).

AI is changing everything around us, almost. But while it can help you plan and shop, it can’t cook. Over the next 24 hours, my husband, sons, and I will joyfully trash our clean kitchen. We’re crafting a custom cocktail (my husband), an indulgent chocolate espresso pie (my sons), my mom’s spicy Jalapeno Spinach recipe (my task), and mashed potatoes for 25 people (all hands on deck). Years ago, my husband was aghast when my aunt didn’t assign mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving so now, he does not leave this up to chance.

We’ll head to my brother and sister-in-law’s house, where the last few years they’ve thrown a big party for turkey day. They generously invite family, friends, kids’ roommates, now a few significant others, and once a college teammate who wasn’t planning to go back to Australia until Christmas. All the guests contribute to the massive, mouth-watering spread of food. I love the traditional fare; but I’m also opening my heart to the margarita machine.

I’m very excited to be in a big room with people around lots of tables, catching up, eating and drinking too much, reveling in rowdy community. Unlike at Christmas, no one is worried about presents! There might be football on TV. Someone will get out the karaoke machine; some people are more enthusiastic than others (guilty).

One of my favorite parts is that we stand in a circle and go around so everyone can say what they’re thankful for. There are a couple jokes and some “what they said” answers, but also there are genuine responses. People are grateful for family, food, shelter, significant others, pets, friends, jobs, nature…and health (many sad stories close to home this year), freedom of speech, and democracy.

This year, I’m going to say I’m thankful for love. It’s not cheesy to me. I feel so loved by my family and friends. I feel big love for people close in my orbit. I also feel love for the people who keep my community going and our water flowing. I have love to send out to former work colleagues, college buddies, neighbors, my book club, my editors, and my tribes of women who motivate me. I have love for the authors and artists who inspire and entertain me, and for the reporters who bring me the news, grim though it may be.

A wise person once told me there is no limit to the love you can put into the world. Another person told me love is not a pie, divvied up then gone. Tomorrow, send some love out there. And remember to accept a big slice of pie and enjoy every bite. Because AI can’t cook.

#gettogether #makesomething #gratitude #pie #connections