Preaching to family members and friends of other faiths and beliefs on Thanksgiving is rather un-American, in my view.

Thanksgiving is a national holiday, not a religious one. We give thanks for our nation and our good fortune in the real world we are living , not to a Christian or Jewish or Muslim god figure.

I hope that stepson's wife learned her lesson, but I doubt it.

Look at you, being so good and just sitting there listening to her instead of starting a fight.

Why do so many religious people have no other topic of conversation? Why do they feel the need to preach at every opportunity?

Well, I am glad she shut up. Did she really "not say another word", or just not another word on the subject? She probably thinks now that you are the devil or something.

that it would start a family feud or a religious war.

So all worked out wonderfully for you. She stopped the babbling without incident.

come the occasional timely social cue.

Very good tale. For your part I'd say you provided one of the best examples of using "brevity is the soul of wit" to serve it up (oh so gently, of course) to a most deserving soul, that I have ever seen.

Masterfully played!

Julie