Someday, I will have my Christmas giving act together so I can take advantage of Black (ink) Friday. Until then, I will just enjoy Family, and watch in amusement and dismay at the excess crazy.
I'll also try and not be the annoying Uncle who ruins everyone's day with po!itics. In real life. In our virtual reality, it's full steam ahead!
It's good to remember that Thanksgiving is not just about a colony of outcast religious zealots being saved by the Native Americans. It's important to remember the errors in understanding human nature that led to nearly wiping themselves out.
Both aspects of Thanksgiving are part of our heritage, and remembering both is vital to good citizenship in a land ruled by ourselves. Ignoring Either aspect is as bad a mistake in understanding human nature as the Communal Ideals that led to both the disaster, and rescue, that Thanksgiving is all about.
Thanksgiving might be a uniquely American Holiday. Despair, joy, irony, romanticism, faith, craziness, altruism, it's a historical and cultural mix that is often reflected in our tables excessive choices and quantities. Turkey, ham, corn, potatoes, cranberries... And that incredibly delicious ambrosia my Mother makes from tapioca pudding, cool whip, and tangerines.
No one needs that much food or in such variety! But the feast is a deliberate remembrance of foods from Old World & New, of Native generosity and Refugee imports.
And the bottom line is we are Thankful to our families, our friends, our gods, and our own labor to survive, as we celebrate the harvest, the community, and ideals above and beyond our daily toils.
Bless you all. Thank you Blake for this community.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Psalms 107:1 - O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
Psalms 7:17 - I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Psalms 100:1-5 - (A Psalm of praise.) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Matthew 6:25-34 - Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Isaiah 12:1-6 - And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
Psalms 50:14 - Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.
Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Psalms 116:12 - What shall I render unto the LORD [for] all his benefits toward me?
Lamentations 3:23 - [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness.
Psalms 136:1 - 127:26 - O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
2 Corinthians 2:14 - Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Psalms 95:1-6 - O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalms 31:19 - [Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
I was just yesterday reading both presidential Thanksgiving Day proclamations, the first by Washington, and the second by Lincoln. It's important to keep the true reason for the holiday in mind.
It's a rare holiday that all can appreciate, as it is a holiday of unity and brother/sisterhood.
May we all find reason to give thanks, to be grateful, to feel blessed.
That it has been! I worked my part of the day Thursday, then peeled off the floor, changed clothes, and sat down with 8 members of Marcia's family. Had a great dinner, two my best server co-workers took care of us, we shared two bottles of very good wine.
Yesterday we did breakfast here at the house with M's daughter and son-in-law, then headed to Knoxville to just walk around, shop, gawk, and occasionally stop for refreshments. Nicky and I wore extra gaudy sweaters, I had my animated Christmas tree hat to top things off. Stopped in Postmodern Spirits, tried some craft gin, vodka, and bourbons. Highly recommended, very neat place with very neat products. Made it back to Mur-vil to have a nice Mexican dinner at a favorite spot.
SO nice to have Black Friday off. I'm back on the hamster wheel this evening though, gotta chase the cheese. I sure hope all youn's had at least as nice a Thanksgiving as we have.
