Mark Normand's Thanksgiving Family Visit and Travel Nightmares

Extended Family Visit

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Mark Normand's parents visited for 12 days before Thanksgiving, a lengthy stay attributed to their age and frailty.
• 👶 The grandparents enjoyed significant time with their grandchild, playing with him daily.
• 🏡 Despite the family's presence, Mark's parents largely stayed in, engaging in quiet activities like reading and crosswords.

Holiday Mishaps and Entertainment

• 🛠️ Just before the family's arrival, the bathroom and heater broke, disrupting the household.
• 🎭 Mark's family attended the Rockettes Christmas show, which was a hit with his parents and brother's children, despite initial skepticism from his wife.
• 🌟 The family also experienced other holiday attractions like the Winter Wonderland in Bryant Park, carousel rides, and ice cream.

Travel Day Shifts

• 🚗 Thanksgiving travel has shifted; Wednesday is now the worst day to travel, surpassing Tuesday due to people trying to leave earlier.
• 🚗 This mirrors the phenomenon of rush hour traffic extending earlier in the day.
• 🎤 Mark recounts a lucrative private gig at a secret Backgammon club in Soho, where he was paid significantly more than usual for a short set.

Family Dynamics and Dietary Habits

• 📺 Mark's brother's children, who are vegan and don't watch TV at home, became glued to TV shows like 'How to Train Your Dragon' during their visit.
• 🍔 They also indulged in non-vegan foods like turkey and ice cream, described as a 'relapse' from their home discipline.
• 🦃 Mark's mom excelled at Thanksgiving dinner, preparing the turkey and fixings, and later a turkey gumbo.