A “near-normal” Thanksgiving.

The media theme  for the Holiday weekend , based on the pandemic finally nearing endemic status, with even the most paranoid talking head allowing that it may be OK to be in the same room with other people again. If one’s life insurance premiums are paid…. and the family pets are masked.

And as someone who has been “near-normal” my entire life, the description rang true.

As this is the favorite Holiday for many of us Americans, due to its low-keyness and lack of presents expectation/gift giving pressure, it was great to do it up right again.

The day began with turkey prep, where Tom was washed, dried, and covered with essential oils. As was I, wanting to be “one with Tom”.

His cavity was then stuffed with stuffing, but only after obtaining written permission, and attending a session on “respecting boundaries”.

Once Tom was in the oven, slathered in butter – as was I, again to be “one with Tom”, but also to relive one of my favorite College weekends – we headed outside for the annual “Father-Son Turkey Bowl”.

My participation ended prematurely, as I pulled a hamstring. On the plus side, it was my 8th consecutive year for a hamstring pull, a family record! The Fathers won once again, utilizing an obscure regulation from the ADA for a late score.

The Corn Hole challenge was next, which also ended prematurely, as I pulled the other hamstring, and caught a bag in the eye. That left me lame, half blind and partially deaf, much like Millard Fillmore, my favorite president.

Our final group activity was “Atrocity Recreation” where we reenacted the ‘war crimes’ committed by the original settlers: stealing our neighbor’s dinner, annexing their front yard, and forcing them to teach us how to grow corn.

The highlight was recreating the “Over there!” trick, which was used by the settlers to distract the locals, when they then stole Walpole, MA.  

From there we went to watch the NFL games, with the Lions game counting as time served for our future Purgatory calculations.

And of course, through all the activities, our favorite Thanksgiving tradition: Day drinking! Did I mention Mimosas with Proseco and Fresca, or Bloody Marys with a shot of beer, a Milwaukee tradition?

Once Tom was freed from the oven, and renounced on Twitter for his sodium content, we sat down to dinner: turkey with many of the trimmings.

But first, the always awkward pre-Thanksgiving dinner ritual when each diner responds to “What are you thankful for?”, aka the ‘Gratitude Moment’.

The answers ranged from: “My family, my friends”, “What they said” to “picking up the 7/10 split”, but this year included:  “That just a week later, the justice system in this country works again”.    

After dinner, we headed to the family room for our annual ‘food comas’. We soon discovered Uncle Frank was in an actual coma, and no one is allowed to sit in that place on the sofa, ever again.

It was a great day, full of family, fun traditions, and gratitude. Yeah, “near-normal” it was.

But in a “normal” annual reaction, I wondered “What if the ‘gratitude moment’ became an ongoing, year-round thing?”

What if we woke up every day and were grateful for the gifts we’ve been given, beginning each day reminding ourselves how lucky we are to have another one?  

Woke up and remembered each day is a gift from God, and we do Him – and ourselves – honor by making the most of each one?

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TO ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING SONGS:

Almost Thanksgiving Day  Graham Parker

Full steam ahead come what may, You get the world that you make they say
Chop up the wood and bale hay, Now that it’s almost Thanksgiving Day

The kids come and go with their things, We sit and polish our wedding rings
The forecast snow on the way, Just in time for Thanksgiving Day

Out on the street some fool crashed, Drinking port wine and sour mash
That’s one man who can say, No thanks Thanksgiving Day

I’m bone weary, I’m bone tired, The wood stove’s last spark just expired
Dawn’s about one hour away, And it’s almost Thanksgiving Day

Turkey Chase   Bob Dylan

A lovely instrumental from the soundtrack to “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid”

Be Thankful for what you got  Massive Attack

Though you may not drive a big big Cadillac
Gangster whitewalls, TV antenna in the back

You may not have a car at all, But just remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall. Just be thankful for what you’ve got

Though you may not drive a big big Cadillac
(Diamonds in the back, sunroof top diggin’ the scene with the gangster lean)
Gangster whitewalls, TV antenna in the back

You may not have a car at all
But just remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall, Just be thankful for what you’ve got

Young Pilgrims  The Shins

A cold and wet November dawn, And there are no barking sparrows
Just emptiness to dwell upon

I fell into a winter slide, And ended up the kind of kid who goes down chutes too narrow
Just eking out my measly pies

But I learned fast how to keep my head up ’cause I, Know there is this side of me that
Wants to grab the yoke from the pilot and just, Fly the whole mess into the sea

Another slow train to the coast, Some brand new gory art from way on high
I sink and then I swim all night

I watch the ice melt on the glass, While the eloquent young pilgrims pass
And leave behind their trail, Imploring us all not to fail

Of course I was raised to gather courage from those
Lofty tales so tried and true and
If you’re able I’d suggest it ’cause this
Modern thought can get the best of you

This rather simple epitaph can save your hide, your falling mind
Fate isn’t what we’re up against there’s no design no flaws to find
There’s no design no flaws to find

But I learned fast how to keep my head up ’cause I Know I got this side of me that
Wants to grab the yoke from the pilot and just, Fly the whole mess into the sea

Thank You Friends  Big Star

Thank you, friends, Wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you
I’m so grateful for all the things you helped me do.

All the ladies and gentlemen, Who made this all so probable

Thank you, friends, I rejoice to the skies
Dear ones like you do the best I do
As far as can see my eyes

All the ladies and gentlemen, Who made this all so probable

Without my friends I got chaos, I’m often a bead of light.
Without my friends I’d be swept up high by the wind

Do, do…

All the ladies and gentlemen (I said all)
All the ladies and gentlemen, Who made this all so probable

Thank you friends (thank you again), And again, and again… Never too late to start

Thanksgiving Filter  Drive By Truckers

Grandmother’s wheelchair is sitting in the corner
We all sure love her, but the little ones avoid her
‘Cause she’s gray-haired and wrinkled and her burden looks heavy
Ninety years of survival can look awful scary
Papa’s building something and has since history, But what he’s building is still a mystery
It’s big and it’s twisting and shaped convoluted
It don’t have a function but you better salute it
And it will never be finished but I guess that’s the point
It just gives him a filter and psychological ointment
He woke up real early but he’s late for his appointment
And I sure wish that I had smoked me a joint
It’s Thanksgiving and Jesus, I’m thankful
For abundance and bounty and a big tall stiff drink-full
And the love of your mother and the love of mine too
Thanksgiving’s almost over and Christmas is soon
Mama is trying to live in the present
Don’t let him have a heart attack before I pay off the presents
Granddaddy’s gone but she still feels his presence
He tried to call but he didn’t leave a message
It’s Thanksgiving and Jesus I’m thankful
So put the food on the table and Papa says a blessing
They’re cutting up some turkey and gobbling some dressing
My Aunt’s praising Palin and my niece loves Obama
My uncle came to dinner wearing his pajamas
Thank God for the filter that enables some distance
From the screaming and crying and the needs of assistance
You wonder why I drink and curse the holidays
Blessed be my family from three hundred miles away
It’s Thanksgiving and Jesus I’m thankful

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