Thoughts For Thanksgiving...

Welcome to that favorite time of year when we gather families together to share the bounty that we are fortunate to have - a time of blessings we have received, and that we can share with others.
We'll get to that in a minute, but we have some business to take care of first, don't we?
Our Hoosierland weather will be somewhat inviting, with a mild day that sees us with a high of around 60 degrees.
We will be stuck with increasing clouds, though and breezy conditions.
That should not cause our day to be diminished, though...right?
*** First out of the oven is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American."

This was spoken by none other than William Sidney Porter, better known as O. Henry, an American short-story writer (11 Sep 1862 - 5 Jun 1910) and here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Henry

It's not that long a read and worth a few minutes of your time (like after dinner today while you're waiting for dessert).
And yes, he was the person who wrote "The Gift Of The Magi".
What's interesting is that HE is the one who coined the term "Banana Republic" in his work Cabbages And Kings (1896) which described the country he was living in at the time (Honduras).
He actually fled America because of an embezzlement charge from a bank we worked at in Texas, Wasn't really proven, either..
It's an interesting read about someone we all learned about in school.
*** Next up, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
November 26 -
---Today is NATIONAL CAKE DAY

See, there IS a day JUST for cake.)
---It's also NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING

It's a protest day created in 1970. Here's  the WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Mourning_(United_States_protest)
---And, it's TURKEY-FREE THANKSGIVING

I'll say no to Paul instead.

(okay, who's the damn liberal vegan hippie that dreamed THIS asinine thing up?)
---And, it IS THANKSGIVING DAY

(and that DOES include TURKEY, so there!)
*** Next up,  let's skip all the crap going on in the world and concentrate JUST on what this day means.
It's a day when we give thanks for what we have.

But, in recent history, we've lost some of that meaning, and much of it has to do with the commercialism of the holidays.
Hey, I'm all for the capitalism that drives our country, but WE need to shut it down once in a while.
We need to take stock in OURSELVES and thank God for what HE bestows upon each of us.
As we get older, today takes on a more somber meaning - those we used to see around our dinner table are no longer with us, and the number of empty chairs grows higher.
But, if it were not for them when they WERE with us, we would not become who we are.
Living in the USA, we have so very much to be thankful for, and yesterday I touched on a very few of them (personally). We owe everything to our Creator, but many never seem to see that.
There are some that follow another path, and never content themselves along it, rather choosing to incite, confuse, lash out, and otherwise carry the baggage of anger, instead of any modicum of civility and kindness.
This time of year should keep us ALL mindful of the many blessings we enjoy, those who fought and died to secure those blessings, and those who brought us up to understand how IMPORTANT today really is (and not to get some 30% off sales).
It's about AMERICA (as O.Henry stated)...it's about US, and our relationship with the Almighty, and it's about family.

Let us strive to always keep such things at the forefront of who we are.
So, from our house to yours, may you ALL enjoy the many blessings this day has, and may God enjoy  HIS place at YOUR table this day and always.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

(and stay safe out there, America).