This is the stuffing I made and put in the crockpot this morning at 9:00 AM to transform into a savoury bread pudding by our meal at 2:30

If you are one of the millions of Americans scurrying around, trying to create the “perfect” Thanksgiving meal, take a breath and relax. If you get to be with people you love, it’s already perfect. Everything is just…gravy. And if you aren’t with the ones you love…well, as Stephen Stills recommended, love they ones you’re with.

This year, I will be eating with my spiritual community, who are lots of people I love. But I won’t be with my son, who is studying abroad in India where Thanksgiving isn’t really a thing. I had been working with the director of the program he is in to send him a small package of treats, but shipping stuff to India is a nightmare. I sent it about 3 weeks before Thanksgiving, and as of last night, it was still being held by India customs for some reason no one has been able to figure despite both and the Director talking to Federal Express customer “service” almost every day for the nearly two weeks it has been held up in customs.

So the director decided to just take everyone out for a celebratory meal out in their village in honor of Thanksgiving. Because turkey and stuffing and gravy may not be universal, but gratitude is. So while I was making my stuffing, I knew the about 8 people who either work at or study at their program were eating out together in a ceremony of thankfulness. And that filled my heart.

So it doesn’t really matter if the food turns out, or what people eat, or if it’s late, or your menu doesn’t look anything like Martha Stewart’s Thanksgiving table. However it looks, if people are gathered with love and gratitude in their hearts, words, and/or deeds…you are having a PERFECT Thanksgiving.

Enjoy!

PS–Even uncooked, the stuffings tastes better than it looks in the picture. However, no matter how it turns out, I’m already having a perfect Thanksgiving.