Ask Tia Juana

     Tia Juana will cheerfully provide advice for anyone that asks.  Just mail your questions to “Ask Tia Juana” at PO Box 8, Van Horn, Texas 79855.  All questions will remain anonymous unless there is a chance for extortion.  Disclaimer:  Tia Juana is not a licensed counselor or therapist and none of the advice should be considered professional.

Dear Tia,

I may be one of the only people in the world that hates holidays.  Our family takes turns having Thanksgiving and Christmas at our houses, and this year, it’s my turn to host Thanksgiving.  Everyone is expected to bring their favorite dish, and most of the family is very gracious and complimentary about other dishes except for one family member.  My sister-in-law comes from a wealthy family and always turns up her nose at our traditional dishes, which are not always the all-American dishes usually served during Thanksgiving.  We always bite our tongues whenever she starts her snarky remarks and refuses to even taste the dishes.  This has been going on for years, but now that I’m older and have less patience, I’m afraid that I may blow up and let her have it this year.  At the same time, her contribution to the dinner is a nasty jello salad that nobody eats and that I’m convinced is the same salad that she recycles every year.  Should I continue to bite my tongue or bite her?

-Fed up

Dear Fed up,

Although no one would blame you for spiking her food with cyanide, she IS married to your brother and no one wants a scene at a holiday.  Continue to bite your tongue but quietly pass the word to the rest of your family, except your brother, to avoid her “jello surprise” and hopefully she’ll get the message that she is no Iron Chef.  As for her not wanting to try your family’s traditional dishes…her loss!  I would make a big fuss about how delicious the dishes are while ignoring hers.  Happy Thanksgiving!

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