Greetings sknshook. Hope your Mother is doing better, mine is under the weather also these days - those old bones just don't like the cold any more. Our weather this fall has been all over the place. Two weeks ago just before Grey Cup (like your Superbowl) it was minus 24 - 30 C here (-11 to -22F) then last week we saw 0 C (32F). We've also got plenty of snow as well which is good for the skiers. DW and I were joking a few weeks back that we should celebrate Thanksgiving in October here, go across and spend Thanksgiving with you in the USA, finish off with Christmas and New Years and then hibernate with the bears till April. Sounds like your family has finally come of age where they realize your time is better spent with your Mom and they can take care of Thanksgiving. You have something extra to be thankful for.