So when plans change, and you suddenly find yourself alone in Evanston for Thanksgiving, the decision becomes:

Food or people?

That is, do I want to pay the $3 to go to the ASG Thanksgiving dinner and be surrounded by crowds of strangers? Or do I want to do a big shopping trip for ingredients and then spend Thanksgiving making all the traditional foods that I associate with the day?

I'm leaning towards the latter. My mom dictated several recipes to me over the phone this evening, and since I've had salmon instead of turkey at Thanksgiving for the last 10 years, this makes the endeavor significantly more feasible. Salmon, mashed potatoes, my mom's special crescent rolls, spinach casserole, chocolate truffles-- I can totally make those things. They may not be everyone's idea of Thanksgiving (well, I'm pretty sure the mashed potatoes are a standard!), but it's what my family has. And since this is going to be my first Thanksgiving ever without my family, I kind of like the idea of having that culinary connection, eating the familiar things at the same time as they are. Sure, my mom can say, "You shouldn't be alone on Thanksgiving!" But honestly, in that crowd at the ASG dinner, I'd just be alone in a sea of people.

It's odd what impact food can have on your emotions, isn't it?  ¶ 1:47 AM