Weddingbee boards

I was on the phone with my mom yesterday, and she asked me if anyone had mentioned throwing me a bridal shower yet.  I said no, and she said, "Well, maybe I'll just throw one for you here in Ohio."

A bit of background: My parents moved to Ohio the summer after I graduated from high school.  When they moved to Ohio, I moved out of the house.  I have NEVER lived there.  During college, I spent a couple summers there with them, but Ohio is not and never has been my home.  I've gotten to know a few people there, but the vast majority of my parents' friends there are people I have never met or have met only briefly.

Anyway, we immediately hung up because she was in a crowded restaurant and I couldn't hear her, but I called her again today to talk about it.  I was kind of confused by the whole concept.  I wanted to know when she would hold it and who she would invite.

First of all, her answer for "when" was a bit worrying.  "I guess over Thanksgiving would be best," she said.  It's true that that's probably the only time I'll be able to go to Ohio before the wedding, but the Saturday after Thanksgiving sounds like the most inconvenient time possible for a wedding shower.  I doubt anyone would come.  They'll all either be out of town or be hosting family from out of town.

And then her answer for "who":  a few of her friends from their local theatre group, people from supper club, a bunch of names I didn't even know...  I asked her if these were all people I was supposed to be inviting to the wedding.  "No, you don't have to do that," she said.  I said I thought it would be really rude to invite these people to a shower and not to the wedding.  She said, "Well, you know they wouldn't come to Texas for the wedding anyway, so they'd probably just think the invitation was another present grab!"  I insisted that it would be rude, and she said that the rules must be different when distance is involved.   I didn't think so, but she couldn't be swayed.

On top of all that, they're trying to sell their house right now, and my dad is looking around the country for a new job, so there's a pretty good chance that they won't even be in Ohio by November.

Of course, I'd like to have a bridal shower, but this just seems like a bad idea...  Bees, please help!  What should I do?

@chittychittybanebane:  I'm kind of worried about the fact that I won't even know the names of 90% of the people who might show up.

I actually really appreciate that she's offered.  I know she's just doing it because she wants me to have the "full bride experience."  I think it's awesome of her.  I just don't know if I'm comfortable with how it would happen. 

Other than my mom, I only have eight female relatives, and I've never lived in the same state as ANY of them (and neither have my parents since I was born).  I haven't even seen most of the ones on my mom's side for seven or eight years.  Thus, I don't have any family who can really host one.  FI has a bunch of local family members who might offer, but I haven't heard anything yet.  Finally, it's possible that my bridesmaids might plan something, but they haven't mentioned it yet, either (though I really didn't expect them to, and especially not so soon.  My MOH is getting married tomorrow, so she has more important things to worry about at the moment).

So I guess the general consensus is to let her host the shower but make sure that everyone is invited to the wedding, right?