A scaled back day of thanks . . .

I’m scaling back on Thanksgiving. Not on the giving of thanks for my many blessings but on the giving of food to people who have already had way too much to eat before they get to my house.

Mama, Louise and I have a pact. I’m not sure this pact was ever any of my doing but over the years, I have become committed to it. Mama hosts Christmas at her house, Louise has Easter and Thanksgiving falls into my less than perfectly capable hands.

Until a few years ago, I had it under control. I was so in charge of everything that my house was cleaned to its most sparkling and my fresh Christmas tree was up and beautifully decorated. I worked for days shopping, cooking, polishing silver and washing crystal and china.

Then, slowly, it started to unravel.

The first and main culprit is the annual girls’ trip to New York for shopping and theater that Louise insists on every year. We go the weekend before Thanksgiving, which causes me to lose three important days of preparation.

“Oh, it’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it,” Louise will say soothingly. Then when she arrives, she will be the first to point out a cobweb somewhere.

This year, I tried desperately to bail out of the trip. I go to New York regularly so it’s not a big deal to me. But no go. Louise campaigned long and hard. She called every day and said, “Have you made your reservations yet?”

Needless to say, it’s New York again this year.

Now, add to this that I’m building a new house, closing in on closing. Trying to finish details.

“Can we have Thanksgiving there?” everyone has asked repeatedly for three months.

No. They will be lucky to get Thanksgiving at all. They’ll have to settle for the old house, one that will be bare of a Christmas tree for the first time ever. On top of all the decorating for my new house, I am not adding the decorating of a Christmas tree, too. This should prove how serious this all is.

I’ll also be scaling back on food. Dramatically. When I originally began hosting Thanksgiving, it began at 1 p.m. Then everyone — I host about 18 people — starting having conflicts. They wanted to go elsewhere for lunch. So, my Thanksgiving got pushed to 5 p.m.

Now, while Miss Virgie declares this to be the most civil time that elegant society should have Thanksgiving, it poses a problem. Everyone has had at least one big meal before they get to my house and some have had two. Louise’s in-laws also have a big Thanksgiving breakfast.

It takes no longer than 25 minutes for everyone to graze across the bounty and leave it virtually untouched. After a week of preparation, it’s over in 30 minutes. It takes longer to clean up after they’re finished.

So, I’m scaling back. No Christmas tree, no bounty of food and no sparkling clean house.

I’m thinking that the good Lord will clearly hear our voice of thanks giving over a dinner of beanie weenies and loaf bread. And, for that, I am most thankful.