But I want the Norman Rockwell family.

Holidays are something to get through. There's all this emphasis on "family" but when yours is disfunctional, it leaves one with very mixed feelings. Members of the club I'm a part of often refer to themselves as a "family by choice," but when the big holidays come around (Thanksgiving and Christmas), then the blood relative family is suddenly more important. Which leaves the rest of us unattached folks out in the rain.

Or maybe it's just me being hypersensative. I've always felt like the odd one out.

So my plea to y'all is, if you know a single person - at work or socially - ask them over. Don't assume that they have holiday plans - their no plan may be because they don't want to cook a big meal just for themselves, but they'd be happy to contribute a dish if they were invited. Some of my best Thanksgiving memories are from pot-luck singles/couples organized dinners. Not being forced to sit beside the cousin you never liked!