Mashed Potatoes: A Tradition Worth Fighting For

A conversation that took place at my house last night:

Mom:  Do you know what you want to bring for Thanksgiving?
Me:  I haven't really thought about it yet.
Mom:  Well, it's this week.
Me:  I know.  It's usually better if you just give me an assignment.
Mom:  We're just telling everyone to bring whatever they want.
Me:  Oh, so we're going to get a lot of the same things then?
Mom:  Maybe.
Me:  Just tell me what everyone else is bringing and I'll pick something else.
Mom:  No one has said what they're bringing yet.
Me:  Well, I'd say mashed potatoes, but I'm hoping Randy will make those because his are amazing.
Mom:  We aren't having mashed potatoes this year.
>>>pause<<<
Me:  WHAT?!
Mom:  We're having a bean soup instead of mashed potatoes.
Me:  WHAT?!?!  Mom, we can't have Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes.  It's a tradition!!!
Mom:  Someone told me today that they can't get their family to break with tradition.
Me:  Mom, traditions are traditions for a reason!  That's why we call them TRADITIONS!!
Mom:  Traditions got the Lamanites in a lot of trouble.
Me:  True, but I doubt it was over mashed potatoes.
Mom:  How do you know?
Me:  I don't think that was it.  Mom, we have to have mashed potatoes.  I am bringing mashed potatoes.  Seriously, if we don't have mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner, then I'm not coming.
Mom:  So you're bringing mashed potatoes.
Me:  Yes.  Mom, without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as...as a fiddler on the roof!!

And THAT is why you should hang out at my house more.  The floor show is hilarious!  And the mashed potatoes are worth fighting for!