Hello, hello--hello!

So, Thanksgiving is only a couple of weeks away, and already there's a war going on, and when I say "war," I mean, a war against the consumers.  In case you haven't heard by now, it will cost more this year to prepare the holiday dinners than it did this time last year, up by about 13%.  That means, if you're preparing a Thanksgiving and/or Christmas meal for about 10 people this year, and you probably are, and it includes all the basics; turkey with stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, and, of course, pumpkin pie, it will cost you about $49.20 this year, roughly six dollars more than it did last year.   And, of course, if there's ever been a time in which the average American can't afford to pay too much for a formal meal, it's this time in American history, with everybody losing their jobs and homes and all.  Still, the reasons for the rise in the price can't be denied:  everything from the steady rise of food inflation, to bad weather resulting in the scarcity of crops, to rising fuel prices for the transportation of goods, all play a part in why it's gotten more expensive to have the traditional Thanksgiving feast this year.

So, as the Morton salt girl says so often, "When it rains, it pours."  It seems that we Americans aren't able to catch a break lately.  The economy is in the porta potty, jobs are playing hide and seek with us, the middle class is in a comatose state, literally on life support, and the future of not only America, but the rest of the world, seems uncertain.  The last thing we needed, it seems, to have to pay more to entertain guests on the last Thursday of November.  But there is a way.  Have your guest bring something to the dinner.  You could bake the turkey, Aunt Esther can bring the rolls, Grandma could bring the yams, and your sister-in-law can bring the pumpkin pie.  Everybody bringing something to the table could help ease the cost tremendously.

Well, that's all the time we have for today.  Until next time, be well, stay well, and remember to help the disaster survivors!

Sincerely,




Marley Sue