This weekend is Thanksgiving in Canada. Here are some last minute tips to help you.
1) Send flowers or a special gift.
For the past few years instead of buying and sending gifts to my in-laws for Christmas, I send a fresh floral table centerpiece. I search online for a local florist, then call and order based on my budget, and have it delivered right to them.
You can do this at Thanksgiving if you’d like a special way to send your love to your family when you can’t be there.
Many cities have delivery services, so if flowers aren’t your thing, you can send just about anything by calling the place you want to buy something, and then call the delivery service to pick it up.
2) Send a meal.
There are at least 2 options for meals.
One is Chef’s Plate. You can order between 1 – 3 meals /week. You choose the recipes online and the recipes and ingredients are delivered to the door of your family.
Another service is Skip the Dishes. They provide delivery of restaurant meals from partner restaurants. This is an awesome option for those who can’t get out to enjoy their favourite restaurant – and it makes a really nice “thinking of you” gift.
3) The Holiday Phone Call
Make your Thanksgiving Day phone call the day before or day after your Thanksgiving celebrations. It will be less hectic and you will be more present for the conversation. If you choose to make the call the day after your family celebration, make sure the person you are calling knows when to expect it so they aren’t disappointed to not get a call on the celebration day.
4) Virtual Get Together
Using an online platform like Zoom.us can bring the family together at the same time even when they live miles apart. With a free account you can have a Zoom call of up to 40 minutes. Only one person needs an account for everyone to take part in the call. Your family can join by audio/video on the computer or audio by phone. This is an excellent platform and I like better than Skype.
5) Plan a big celebration for a different time.
If you can’t make it to see your loved one on Thanksgiving weekend, commit to visiting them at a different time and plan a special meal or outing. In our family we have many schedules to consider and we’ve often had our holiday meals on a different weekend. It’s the get together that counts – not the date on the calendar.
“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.”
Meister Eckhart
Happy Thanksgiving!
Lorna