Sorry I saw this late. It needs a good analysis. Any input is appreciated.
visitors can't see pics , please register or login
A dieter's Thanksgiving? The duck would not provide sufficient meat for two people having a holiday feast unless the side dishes were heavily relied upon for fill. (The duck would still have a hollow space, cartilage and bones in a ratio to any other fowl) The lack of cranberries and yams is also notable. This is indeed, a rebel's dinner (although the pie could be a sweet potato pie.) The honeydew melon is the most out of place of all, even as an incorporated Chinese tradition wouldn't make sense as it was cultivated in Lanzhou area from the 1940s afterward (at the same time her father had came to America). The stuffing quantity, while low, is in an equitable proportion to the duck.
It is also strange that she would be using Land O Lakes spread almost as an afterthought (or deliberate dieting?) as real butter would be called for to prepare a quality meal, and it can't be for monetary reasons as a whole duck in Pahrump would be likely had through a costly special order from Albertsons or even more expensive through a Pahrump Chinese Restaurant. Most of the leftovers would be likely of the cornbread, mashed potatoes and melon. The party nut mix was likely not touched at all at meal time and seems placed to make this look like a more bountiful feast than it really is.
The wineglass issue could be overlooked as there is no wine present, only mead, but it does reveal she does not have one more of either style of glass as she normally would be OCD enough to make sure they did match. (The smaller one could be a type of wine glass used with sweet wines, or possibly a type of whiskey or brandy glass (snifter).
As for the place settings, it is also notable that the napkins are on the
right (wrong) side of the plate and at an odd 45 degree angle (perhaps to simulate the look of a proper folded napkin, or make the table look more full - or probably for both reasons) The guest may indeed be a ghost as this plate and utensils could easily be simply put back at the end of the ritual.
An additional tidbit: The planned dining music was Pink Floyd's
Dark Side of the Moon.