Quote Roundup: Thanksgiving Dinner Horror Stories

Ever had a horrible Thanksgiving dinner you wish you could forget? You're not alone. We asked 10 people from across the U.S. about their worst Thanksgiving dinner ever. From turkey on the floor to relatives in the hospital, and even potato chips for dinner, you'll be thankful you didn't have these experiences.

"Worst Thanksgiving, hands down? My fiance, his family, and I were at my parents' home, all hungry, all impatient to eat. My mother not only forgot to turn on the oven to cook the turkey, but we had to try to get the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line (1-800-BUTTERBALL) on Thanksgiving (nearly impossible). We ended up cutting the turkey into pieces and microwaving it." - Jan Corn in Indiana

"I was in Germany with my military husband. He had to work, so I was at home alone. Our heater was a coal furnace, which did not work. I spent the day in the bathroom where there was an electric heater attached to the wall. Dinner was potato chips and beer." - Cherri Megasko in Michigan

"One blustery night when the kids were very young, and my husband was working, I had to run out for bread to make stuffing. The children were at home with my mother. My car died at the gas station in a storm. No cell phones in those days." - Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben in Michigan

"I had worked really hard all day and when it came time to pull out the turkey, the pan dropped and it went scooting halfway down the kitchen floor. I was really tired and burst into tears, crying for what seemed like forever! As it turned out, my mother-in-law was very practical about it. We picked it up, the floor was clean, brushed the imaginary germs off, and everything ended up OK." - Kim Hagen in Michigan

"I once cooked a pork shoulder, instead of a ham. Not quite the taste treat my guests were expecting. I also once made one of those dry-to-the-bone turkeys that fall flat when you cut into them, just like in the movies. Yup, it really does happen. Hey, what did they expect? I'm a vegetarian after all! Plus, I was only a kid at the time. I guess it served as payback for all the times I was invited to meat-eaters-only holiday meals. Ha!" - Jaipi Sixbear in Colorado

"My dad's brother had a major heart attack and wasn't expected to live, so we made the trip to my hometown to visit. We hadn't given any thought to eating Thanksgiving dinner until we started looking for a restaurant open. Finding none, we ended up at Sonic-the only choice!" - Karen Gros in Louisiana

"Well, years ago when my kids were younger (the 1980s) I had gotten the flu during Thanksgiving. I just couldn't get out of bed to make the feast. I sent my husband and kids to the grocery to buy: 'five turkey TV dinners and an apple pie.' My kids have never forgotten this and as adults now, they repeat this phrase as a joke." - Tania Cowling in Florida

"Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant... My parents had gone to Nebraska to visit relatives, my brothers were with their wives' families, and I took my kids out for dinner. I sobbed and had to go to the car because I had never been without my whole family for any holiday." - Debbie Henthorn in Ohio

"My worst Thanksgiving ever was when I was in the military and had just moved to Italy. My husband and I were living in a hotel, didn't know anybody, and didn't have our things. We ended up eating turkey TV dinners and playing video games on the laptop all day." - Brooke Lorren in Arizona

"I came home from my high school boarding school in another state looking forward to my mom's great Thanksgiving dinner. Alas, I got some kind of stomach bug and couldn't eat a thing. Instead, I spent the whole dinnertime running to the john (small j)!" - Mike Miller in Wisconsin