To begin, if you see utensils on the table, best guess is you are expected to use them. Work from the outside in and save the one(s) across the top for dessert. If you're at a super fancy event with crowded tables, be sure to learn the bread and drink rule. What's that? Hold both fists in front of you, as if you're holding candlesticks, and stick out your pointer fingers. You'll (hopefully) notice the left side makes a lower case "b" and the right side makes a "d." Those stand for BREAD and DRINK and designate which side is yours. Do that under the table real quick and you'll never have to drink someone else's backwash again. Of course these tips most likely do not apply at meals where all parties are snatching their chicken from a paper bucket. In these cases, tuck that napkin in your collar, roll up those sleeves and GIT TO GITTIN! That wing ain't gonna bring itself to you.
Thanksgiving is upon us. What a wonderful time of year. People get together...blood families as well as chosen families...and spend time together doing a lot of, well, nothing really. For some it may be eating, talking and sleeping. For others, eating, talking, watching football and sleeping. Still others may choose to eat, chill for a bit, talk, sleep, watch football. The options are limitless. But the main ribbon connecting everyone is just being connected. Visiting with people we may not have seen in a while, and may not care to see for another several months. Or spending the whole day with that one person you've missed terribly since last time this year. Its all about being together and being thankful for it. Being thankful for all that life has dished out this past year. Be it good experiences or learning experiences, life is surely something to be thankful for. Perhaps you are spending Thanksgiving in the company of new people this year. People who may not be accustomed to you stretching way back, slapping your full gut and popping that top button on your pants. Right there at the table. Methinks they might take it wrong when you rip a huge belch and yell "YOWZA! That stuffing was just as good on the flip side!" Something tells me they will NOT see that as a compliment to the cook no matter how you explain it. How 'bout we go over some table etiquette so you won't end up in that group of folks they may not care to see again soon...or ever? To begin, if you see utensils on the table, best guess is you are expected to use them. Work from the outside in and save the one(s) across the top for dessert. If you're at a super fancy event with crowded tables, be sure to learn the bread and drink rule. What's that? Hold both fists in front of you, as if you're holding candlesticks, and stick out your pointer fingers. You'll (hopefully) notice the left side makes a lower case "b" and the right side makes a "d." Those stand for BREAD and DRINK and designate which side is yours. Do that under the table real quick and you'll never have to drink someone else's backwash again. Of course these tips most likely do not apply at meals where all parties are snatching their chicken from a paper bucket. In these cases, tuck that napkin in your collar, roll up those sleeves and GIT TO GITTIN! That wing ain't gonna bring itself to you. Say you're not quite the button-popping, gut busting overachiever when it comes to meals. You're more of a tortoise to the hare. Nice and easy grazer with lots of breaks. Eat a little, gab a little, eat a little, snooze a little, eat a little, space out a little. I hear ya. There are ways to indicate you're not quite finished with your meal. Again, these typically apply mainly to fancy shmancy dinners, but when demonstrated properly may also win some brownie points with the lovey-love's family. According to etiquette expert Mindy Lockard, when taking a small break during mealtime, the best way to signal this is to place fork and knife separate but parallel on the plate. The knife should be on the right side of the fork, and the tines of said for should be facing up. As if to say, "be right back and ready for round two." Another acceptable signal would be to cross the utensils in the center of the plate in an "X." However, if you've had all you can take, have unsnapped as well as unzipped, and have uttered the final belch, go ahead a lay both utensils side by side on your plate, but turn them towards the 11:00 position. Fork tines should be facing up. If you're overseas, your fork tines can face down. Means the same thing. No matter who you spend it with, or if you use a sterling silver spoon or a plastic spork, please remember to chew with your mouth closed and say a sincere prayer of thanks. Life is quite a blessing. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!
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