It is late November again and time to head out the door for Grandma’s house for the annual Thanksgiving feast. This year I started doing some research on the origins of Thanksgiving, but I did not go far before it made my head hurt. Like many things related to history, there is some debate as to origins, exact times and places, etc., etc. In addition to the United States and Canada, there are some other places that observe thanksgiving holidays, and our Canadian neighbors observe their’s earlier in the fall. One thing for sure is that Thanksgiving has been an important national observance in our country for a long time, and was made an official, annual observance by President Lincoln.
You do not want to read all of that in my blog, so, I am betting our traditional view of Thanksgiving is as good as any: The pilgrims gathered to celebrate their new home, their safe arrival, family, friends, and the bounty of the land. Yep, pretty much like what we will do although I do not know the score of the football game held after the first Thanksgiving feast, nor how long the lines were for those beginning their Christmas shopping the next day.
However, I do know that all these years later we have a lot of the same things for which to be thankful. And that in itself is a great thing. I know my family, extended family on both sides, will be thankful for the time we get to spend together and the freedom, health and prosperity we all enjoy. Yes, we will give thanks for the bounty of the land, the turkey, potatoes and gravy, dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, homemade rolls, homemade jellies and pickles; yes, even those funny canned cranberries and of course pecan pie (or pumpkin if that is your choice, but you can have the pumpkin pie).
Some of us will sneak away to spend more time together enjoying other bounties of the land, our fish and game. I again am very thankful that we still have that to enjoy, just like the pilgrims, all these years later. I hope you and yours also get a chance to celebrate our great outdoors over this extended weekend, and while you do, do not forget that we all have a lot to be thankful for.
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