The Thanksgiving that grew

We have set the tables for Thanksgiving. 

In fact, we set them several days ago. Wife believes having the tables ready provides a good framework to work from as she prepares. No argument from me on that. 

This year will be our biggest ever, with 26 humans on site. 

It started with our family, which now numbers 14. Older Son's wife's parents live here, and they will be joining us as they usually do. I have recently come to know a first-cousin-once-removed who lives only a few miles away. Her mother, who died about three years ago, was my first cousin. Her father had died before her mom. 

I sent her a text a couple of months ago asking if she, her husband and two children would like to join us for Thanksgiving. She immediately accepted, saying holidays have sometimes been difficult since both of her parents passed away and she would love to be with extended family. Oh, and she has a sister (also my cousin, obviously) who will be visiting with her husband from Viriginia, and they will come too. 

That put us as 22. We set the dining room table for 11. We set up a six-foot table end-to-end with a card table in the front room (what we call the living room). Wife found a tablecloth that fit the two tables, so it looked like one. We were ready to go. 

Or so we thought. 

A few days ago we were talking to Daughter, who told us about her college friend who lives here (whom we know well) with her husband and two children, who will not be traveling and will not be with family for Thanksgiving. 

We were scarcely off the phone before Wife had placed a call to this person and extended an invitation for them to join us. She accepted. 

The card table came down, replaced with another six-foot table now end-to-end with the other one. Two matching tablecloths replaced the one that would longer fit. 

We are at 26 and holding.

"Are we crazy?" Wife asked me a couple of days ago. 

"Not yet," I sheepishly replied.