I've told this before but it is always good for a laugh.

One year in the mid 1970's my mother decided she didn't want to cook
Thanksgiving dinner. She kept seeing ads on television from a nearby
grocery store, Kroger. "Let Kroger Do It For You!" All the work. All
the side dishes. Just pick it up!

This was before the Internet, folks. This was before Cable TV. She saw
ads on TV for local stores and store promotions. We only got four
television channels. CBS, NBC, ABC and PBS. Local advertising.

She used the phone (OMG, a land line) and called the Kroger supermarket
in Bartlett, TN. Said she'd seen the ad. She ordered a Thanksgiving
dinner. Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy. Two sides and
a pie. To be picked up around Noon on Thanksgiving day.

My middle brother and I went with her to pick it up. My brother was
loading the box into the trunk when he said, "This feels very cold." We
opened the box in the parking lot... what was in the box? Frozen solid
food. A frozen *uncooked* turkey. Frozen everything side dishes. With
instructions on how to cook all of it.

The television ads (I remember them) made it sound like it would be a
fully cooked meal. Just bring it home and plate it. It definitely was
not that.

I have rarely seen my mother display anger in public but she did on that
day. She told my brother to grab the box and she marched back into the
store. I was trailing behind thinking "Uh oh." LOL She gave the store
manager what for. She cited false advertising. She asked what the heck
was she supposed to do with this box of frozen solid uncooked food? At
Noon. On Thanksgiving. She demanded and got her money back.

A cautionary tale based in reality.

We went to another grocery store and bought some NY strip steaks and
russet potatoes. We had broiled steaks and baked potatoes for
Thanksgiving dinner that year.

Jill