One of my favorite holidays, ranked only behind Christmas, Thanksgiving Day is here. Past variants include the requisite turkey aromas, family and friends, falling asleep after dinner, traveling, not traveling, laughter, laughter, laughter.
Favorite memories I: Karl cooking his first Thanksgiving dinner in Philadelphia. Everyone fell asleep on the floor after dinner. Is there a gas leak in here?
Favorite memories II: Do we have enough whipped cream? We have four half-pints of heavy cream. Karen: “There is never enough whipped cream.” Karl: “Why not just put it in the bathtub and use a weed-whacker on it.?” Reported from last year: Grant (Karl’s son) eating whipped cream off a spoon.
There are, of course, lots more. The great thing about Thanksgiving is that it is always the same. So maybe Karl brines the turkey now, but Mom still makes enough pies that there is one per person. Make mine pecan, okay?
One of the best things about Thanksgiving is that it is immunized against growing to gargantuan proportions. It is a single day. People come over. We cook. We eat. It is all about positive feelings. There are no meaningful presents. Then, on Friday, we get on with it. Maybe we continue a vacation, but we don’t assume everyone does. Maybe we shop. Maybe we go back to work—a time to get files cleared, memos written, warm connections with the others who may be in the office, but hardly ever for a full day.
The very best thing about Thanksgiving is that we take a collective, contemplative moment to focus on all our blessings. That exercise in itself makes us all nicer, even if just for a day.
With warmest wishes for this day of gratitude…and with thanks for all of you….Happy Thanksgiving!
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Happy Thanksgiving to you...I hope the snow didn't spoil it!
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