Keller @ Large: The Best Part Of Thanksgiving

BOSTON (CBS) - Have you left for your Thanksgiving destination yet?

I know, it's only Monday. But according to Google Maps, the best day to leave was Sunday, believe it or not, and the best time to leave was around 6 a.m.

One potential problem with this advice – leaving early yesterday means you're there by now, with three extra days to be with your family until the holiday actually arrives.

Depending on your family dynamic, that could be a blessing or a curse for all concerned.

As someone who always plays host to the extended family on Thanksgiving, I'm curious about what it's like for those who do travel for the holiday, especially out-of-state travel.

Is it a time to reconnect with old friends, perhaps from high school days? How long does that sort of fun take to wear thin? Every story I've ever heard about returning to the old hometown at Thanksgiving seems to involve quite a bit of drinking, and I wonder about that.

Anyway, the Google folks claim the best strategy for returning home may be to finish the holiday meal, give everyone a hug, and bolt – traffic on Thanksgiving Day itself tends to be light. If that's not feasible, get out of Dodge by Friday morning, early, they say.

To me, that doesn't make sense.

The best part of Thanksgiving often comes after the big day, when the pressure is off, the relatives you never really got along with are gone, and you can chill with the folks you really like.

Plus, my wife makes the most awesome turkey hash known to man.

Whatever your routine, enjoy the holiday.

And if you have any nominees for the Turkeys of the Year, get them into me fast, because I'm about to draw up the final list.

Listen to Jon's commentary: