Remember key lessons

Some things I have learned over more than 70 Thanksgivings:

•Leave room for dessert.

•The NFL game is seldom as interesting as you might like. But it’s a good time to bond with your uncles and aunts.

•They’ll move you from the kids’ table to the grown-up table when you are ready. The sure proof that you’re not ready is to whine about being at the kids’ table.

•Family is one of those concepts that can be broadened to include people you’re not related to. Some of our best Thanksgivings have been those that brought “strays” to the table, folks who had nowhere else to go. Welcoming them to the feast was another way to give thanks.

•Politics is best left in the trunk of the car and has no place at the dinner table on a day like this.

•Laughter makes everything taste better.

•It may be impossible to tell too many stories, though the ex-wife of a cousin once complained, “You Ronalds don’t have conversations. All you do is tell stories.” Guilty as charged.

•It is definitely impossible to walk past the carcass of the turkey after it’s been carved without sneaking a morsel.

•Don’t just eat the food you brought to the occasion. Try something new. Sure, there are oysters in that dressing and you’ve never tasted oysters. But live a little. Taste just a little.

•Those Jello salads from church basement carry-ins — the ones with the bits of carrot in them — don’t taste any better today than they did when you were in fifth grade.

•Good gravy can improve even the weakest dressing.

•If you’re not comfortable with a family prayer for some reason, at least have a moment of silence for reflection. It may turn into a prayer after all.

•It’s OK to send the kids to a movie on Thanksgiving afternoon. But choose the movie carefully. Elvis in “GI Blues” was not my first choice, but I wasn’t in charge.

•Tryptophan is real. There’s something in turkey that makes you sleepy, especially if you took that extra helping you should have avoided.

•It’s a good idea to go for a walk after the meal. Trust me, you’ll feel better. And, what the heck, it can build up your appetite for another round of turkey and dressing.

•When older relatives start telling stories you’ve heard a dozen times before, just smile and listen. It won’t be long before you’re the one repeating old stories.

•Try not to discuss recent surgeries or illnesses. There’s a time and a place for that. Thanksgiving isn’t it.

•Carve the turkey or ham without an audience. They make it look easy in the movies, but you’ll feel less pressure without half a dozen people looking on.

•If the family meal is in mid-afternoon, be sure to skip lunch. You can nibble at the leftovers later and call that dinner.

•Don’t fuss too much about what the kids are eating. Our twins had a memorable Thanksgiving feast that consisted of nothing but rolls and mashed potatoes when they were about 5. They survived and prospered.

•Take pictures. But don’t worry about who is in your photos. It’s a little awkward when your aunt suggests that your fiancé shouldn’t be in the group shot because she’s not really part of the family yet. If you doubt that, just ask my wife.

•It’s more than OK to have a bottle of wine with the meal. Pinot Noir works well with both turkey and ham. But don’t overdo it.

•Don’t just consume. Provide. Even if it’s just a can of cranberry sauce, you’ll feel better if you’ve contributed to the feast.

•Find a quiet time alone to consciously count your blessings. That’s what the day is for.

And did I mention that you should leave room for dessert?