“One of
the greatest institutions of the civilized world is the family dining room
table”. – Teddy Roosevelt Jr.
As you
will soon find out I adore the Roosevelt’s, all of the Roosevelt’s to be exact.
This quote from Teddy Jr. exemplifies the reasons why. Although they had a
sense of duty and patriotism they never lost sight of their families. For them
family was the most important thing. I believe it’s a central reason why they
were so successful and why we don’t have many politicians nowadays who come
close to polishing their shoes.
Thanksgiving
is a time where sitting around a table of family is precisely what the doctor
ordered. It is the time to catch up while creating new memories to cherish. It
is the time for stopping in our busy lives to acknowledge who is important to
us and why. If we don’t know why then perhaps they shouldn’t be in our lives?
Certainly some food for thought.
It
has been around many of my family’s holiday tables where we have laughed until
we cried and then laughed some more. It is where we retell the same story over
and over again until we have them all memorized and are impersonating one
another. “What’s his name? I don’t know!” That was for you, UF.
An
American Thanksgiving is really a link to our past the origins of which go back
to 1620. That is even earlier than our first Independence Day on July 4, 1776.
I love that the idea of being grateful is the idea behind of nation’s first
holiday.
Many
countries around the world have a day to give thanks or fall harvest, which is
sort of the same thing. The reasons are of course different that created those
holidays than ours but I like thinking we are a part of a world tradition
proving we are all not so different.
During
the holidays I enjoy cooking everything from scratch however my preferred way
to celebrate is to travel some place new with my family and even extended
family. I look forward to the days in the future when I live in New Orleans
part of the year and my family and I can celebrate there. In fact we all went
to New Orleans to celebrate Thanksgiving back in 2008. Naturally it was a good
time.
But
when talking about the origins of Thanksgiving there is a more obvious spot
that is the most appropriate place to go, Boston, Massachusetts. Surprisingly
the places you would want to visit there are open on Thanksgiving. Pilgrim
Plantation will show you how the real Indians and Pilgrims lived during the
sixteen hundreds. You can go visit The Mayflower II and best of all feast your
eyes on the prize- Pilgrim Rock. That is the holy grail of America and thus
Thanksgiving.
I
feel like a trip to Boston with family is the best of both worlds. We are
spending quality time together retracing our nation’s ancestor’s footprints.
Plus you know its Boston and plenty of fun things to do.
This
holiday weekend is definitely one of my favorite weekends to travel during the
year and something I hope to do again next year. Where will it take me? I don’t
know yet and that is part of the excitement.
For
my family a truly American Thanksgiving consists of the less is more approach.
Normally there is always an “Italian” element to Thanksgiving meaning there is
pasta served as the first entrée and the turkey and fixings as the second. We
start with cheeses and meats, definitely carbs, as we do for every holiday.
Between the “appetizers” and pasta you can get pretty full pretty fast.
Therefore we need an intermission before the turkey cutting. I am usually all
done at that point until we get to dessert which we always have too much of.
This
year is probably the most relaxing Thanksgiving I have ever had. I am not
cooking or traveling. Instead I am home with my immediate family enjoying a
plentiful but reasonably sized meal. Since the party is smaller there is definitely
no one shouting over the crowd to have a conversation, although that part I
never really minded.
I
have some time for myself. This is unheard of. I really appreciate the ease
since I have to work tomorrow. It is actually feels like a real day off. Usually
holiday dates off are busier than an average workday. One of the things I am
thankful for today is definitely this soothing vibe.
Previously
I have written two other Thanksgiving blogs. The first was the month after New
York City was struck by Superstorm Sandy (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2012/11/for-thanks-and-giving.html).
The
second was about what I am grateful for and all of the amazing charitable acts
of kindness that I love around this date. I think the list of the ten things we
could all be grateful is my favorite portion of that posting (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2014/11/for-turkey-lurkey-time.html).
Today
I am grateful for the little things, seriously little. Like the fact that Hale
and Hearty were serving broccoli and cheese soup this week and I ate it with
the sandwich I made at home. I am thankful there is a television show called
“Hunting Hitler” that fills my mind with history and wonder each week.
I
am grateful I forced myself to stay up until the wee hours of many mornings
this week to post a blog despite my exhaustion. I am thrilled I caught my bus
on time this week. Never mind the countless notices I was getting that my bus
ride home with be late and crowded beyond belief.
I
am at peace because I did not wake up in pain so if I go to bed with it I will
know that at least I had some reprieve today. Everyone in my family and
friends are healthy somehow with a mixture of luck, faith, and science.
Today
I need to count all of the love in my life just as the song “Seasons of Love” (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2012/08/for-jonathan-larson-and-all-of-seasons.html)
has taught me to.
I
want to remember that the things that make or break me in a day are usually
things that are inconsequential to others. I have to acknowledge that my
pain is not as bad as others and that I am lucky enough to live in a land with
health insurance and people that would take care of me.
As
Avenue Q, the former Broadway play, would say: “only for now”. For now is what
we should be flat out THANKFUL for and I am.
No
matter what there is always something or someone worse off than you, so we
should take notice when things are going well. Even if it’s just the little
things you are excited about. If there are enough of them they add up to big
things.
I
know this is easier said than done but I am trying to live this way each day.
Just within myself. I cannot let outside energy or issues come into my being
and alter the way I am truly feeling. I do not want something insignificant to
make me act out of character. I need to retreat into my soul where happiness
and peace lie.
Keeping
thankfulness in everyday life is not easy but better than the alternative. If
this is not happening to you right now than pick another day when you can set
aside time to be grateful and at peace with yourself and life.
I
am reminded, by the National Museum of Funeral History, that: “any day above
ground is a good day”. And so it is.
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