Three days from now, you'll be sitting down to a lovely Thanksgiving dinner.  Now is not the time to panic!

This is why you have a schedule.  If you planned your schedule well, keeping to the schedule will let you finish everything on time.  When you get nervous, keep going back to the schedule.  If you get extremely nervous, see if there's anything you can move forward. Putting the turkey in the over tomorrow morning would not be a good plan, but perhaps you can chop the celery and onions for the stuffing (refrigerate them in an airtight container) so all you have to do before mixing the stuffing is saute them quickly.

Another good thing to do is to make a list of tasks you can assign to people on Thanksgiving Day.  You know that people will ask what they can do.  It's good to have some ideas at hand.  If you hate having people in your kitchen, plan tasks outside the kitchen.  If you like company in the kitchen, that's where most of the tasks should be located.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Run to the store to buy some ice.
• Serve as bartender.
• Replenish appetizers.
• Light the candles.
• Maintain the fire in the fireplace.
• Manage guests' coats.
• Transfer food from pots to serving bowls.
• Mash the potatoes.
• Make the gravy.
• Fill glasses with ice water.
• Clear the table between courses.