1. The sibling who’s also your partner in crime.
Every other family dinner has been gearing you and your sibling up towards this day. You both know you have each other’s backs at the dinner table this year, whether it’s making sure you both get prime picks of the food or helping each other out when grandpa’s about to start his 10th story about when he was younger. As long as you have your sibling by your side, you might make it through the night in one piece.
2. That cousin’s S/O you have to make awkward conversation with.
You might not have even known that your cousin and their S/O were still together (or that they even existed), but when your mom tells you your cousin is bringing their S/O over on Thanksgiving for a bit, you know it’s gonna be a night of awkward pauses and small talk. At least you’ll be able to hear more funny stories about your cousin, either from their mom or from their S/O.
3. The aunt who’s probably had one too many glasses of wine.
Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends. It’s also a time to let loose a little (and sometimes maybe even too loose). By the end of the night there might be that one aunt who’s a bit tipsy, which can either be kind of funny or it can get bad pretty quick. Whichever one it is, it’s practically a Thanksgiving tradition at this point.
4. The family-friend who wants a detailed report of your life since the last time they saw you.
Starting with your current relationship status and ending with the recounts of even your most mundane classes, there’s that family-friend who wants to know every possible little detail about what’s going on in your life right now. It’s sweet, but there’s also a really good chance that they’re gonna gang up with your aunts at some point and tell you stories from when you were a baby that you’ve heard at every other family gathering.
5. The uncle who makes awkward political statements at the table.
Is it really a family gathering unless someone brings politics to the table? (It is, but it’s a dream that few families can achieve.) After a beer or two, your uncle’s probably ready to talk about any politician under the sun, and he’ll make sure everyone knows his stance on them too. No matter how response to his statements go down we’re all lowkey hoping that conversation will eventually move on to less volatile territory, even if it’s football.