Thanksgiving Day

Let’s all take the day off.

Thanksgiving is at our house today, and I intend to stop obsessing–at least for today– over the multiplying challenges Americans face in the wake of an incomprehensible election.

Instead, I will remind myself of all the things I have to be thankful for: a wonderful and supportive husband, children and step-children and children-in-law who make me proud (and who still inexplicably like to “hang out” with the old folks), four perfect grandchildren and one wonderful granddaughter-in-law (grandchildren, as my husband likes to say, are our reward for not killing our children) and an extended family of truly good people.

Neighbors and friends who are neighborly and friendly.

Former and current students who give me hope for the future, and who keep me challenged and young. (Well, young-ish) Colleagues who are collegial and intellectually stimulating.

Good health, a roof over my head and food on my table.

And last but certainly not least, the community of thoughtful and engaged “commenters”  at this blog, whose observations and conversations illuminate the issues we face and give me food for thought.

I hope all of you have a great Turkey Day, and an equal number of blessings to appreciate.

Tomorrow, of course, we need to go back to the barricades.

34 Comments

  2. Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends. Enjoy some turkey for me. I will be cooking up a big one for Christmas Eve instead. OH and have some stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. Did I mention gravy? mmmm 🙂

  5. Favorite foods, favorite thoughts, and favorite family to everyone on this, a favorite holiday.

  6. The divisiveness could evaporate if everyone felt welcome in their USA home. It would go a long way if Trump/Pence would express that: all Americans are welcome in our mutual homeland. (as sincerely as possible ?)

  7. Happy Thanksgiving to all who enter here! I am especially thankful for Sheila who has provided us this means of letting off a little steam in this crazy election year. ?

  8. Camile; thinking of the first Thanksgiving and conditions at Standing Rock today doesn’t compute. I wonder if they, both sides, remember what today is and how and why it began. Are they celebrating? I pray they are.

  9. I am thankful for this blog and for all the commenters, as well. I used to write for Senators and Congressmen, but now I can finally use my big words. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

  12. Each year, during the week of Thanksgiving, I force myself to sit down and write out my blessings. Everyone we know is dealing with an issue, or maybe issues. But just a minute or so in the listing exercise I realize, again, how blessed I am. The holiday season, 2017, and certainly the next four years, will also provide opportunities for me, and all of us, to be blessings to someone else. God bless you all. Thankful for you…..kindred spirits.

  14. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I include your commentaries among the things for which I am thankful.

  24. Sheila: thanks for your grit and courage in leading our discussions. The First Amendment hangs on by its fingernails. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

  25. Thank you for being my first morning read, Sheila Kennedy! It’s such a pleasure to start the day with your wise thinking before facing the day’s totally bonkers reality. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. And to all the folks whose comments I enjoy as much as the daily blog.

  26. As a Boomer, I remember waking up to the smell of a cooking turkey. My dad and I would watch the football game. Later we would go to one of our relatives house and my grand parents, uncles, aunts and cousins would sit down to a huge feast. My grandmother assisted by her daughters (my aunts) would make various Polish dishes from scratch the week before Thanksgiving. Her pirogi was filled with wild mushrooms my grandfather had gathered, sauerkraut, peaches or a type of cream cheese. Followed by all sorts of desserts.

    The men would go off and play Pinocchio and drink beer (I never did get the hang of the game). The woman cleaned up and washed the pots, pans and dishes (men back then did not grasp the complexities of cleaning up (; >

    The vast majority of people had the day off. Since I grew up in South Chicago, the steel mills and other industrial plants would work a reduced schedule. However, with union contracts in place those that did have to work were paid double time that is you worked 8 hours but were paid for 16 hours.

    Today with their insatiable greed many big box stores will be open. I suspect their employees that have to work will not be paid double time. Crowds will be gathered out side the stores for some deal, and the stampede will begin once the doors open.

    As a kid Thanksgiving it was great we were usually dismissed from school early on Wednesday. then we had Thanksgiving and Friday off WAAAHOOO.

  28. I say the same thing! Also, if I’d known grandchildren were so much fun, I’d have had them first.

  29. Happy Thanksgiving to all and Thank You President Obama for getting us out of a bad recession and a country that has given us all equal rights!!

  33. Judge Barker in her charge to the new Citizens last week – I will try to send it to Sheila for posting – said that “Joy is an act of resistance.” May your holidays be full of joy.

  34. Non theists all over the nation are also meeting with loved ones, some religious and some not. All are grateful for being born in this great nation and having the opportunities their nation supplies and guards for them. At this time we worry, perhaps more than theists, that a minority of the nation has chosen an unfit President whose decisions will negatively impact our lives and futures. Our president elect has won by a clever manipulation of the press and the biases of several poorly educated white dissatisfied groups at the expense of the majority of voters. Several minority groups, as well, stand to lose rights and standings if the President elect carries out his promises. Non theist voters are gaining in numbers and soon will be loud enough to attract the attention of politicians bought by the radical right.

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