thanksgiving 2011

I think the best thing for me about thanksgiving, is that it really gives you an excuse to take a break from the normal day-to-day working world.

Growing up Jewish, we always felt a bit shut out of Christmas. The Jewish holidays, while sacred to us, were un-known or ignored by most of the non-Jews I met and quite a few of the Jews too.

The only holiday that really allowed us to not go to school, not go to work and not to be productive in any major way except of course for cooking, was thanksgiving, not just that day but the whole weekend.

I’ve dragged myself to work in snow storms, on president’s birthdays, on holidays galore from Easter to Passover, in sick-ness and in health, but ah, that wonderful Wednesday, day before Thanksgiving when I know that after a half day of paper-work and email, I can blaze out of the office and not feel even remotely obligated to check in till Monday, knowing that anyone who calls, emails or snail-mails really knows that only a dolt would expect a response over Thanks-giving weekend…now that’s bliss.

This little break from reality opens up a window of freedom that allows other things to happen; calling friends I’ve been too busy to chat with for months and not just a quick how-are-ya, but a real long soulful chat.

Thanksgiving is also my annual “OKAY LAY IT ON ME” time when I just sit back, take a deep breath and let my family members vent about their long, long, long, list of gripes. It’s called “KVETCHING.” The listening part is called “ A REALLY GOOD DEED.”

The driving beat of New York City is dulled just enough to bring out the kid in all of us; watching the floats at the Macy’s parade, (from TV my dears, I don’t know any actual New Yorkers who go in person, kinda like going inside the Statue of Liberty), catching up on great old classics like “Gone with the Wind.” I totally forgot that little Bonny dies and got heart-broken all over again. “The God-Father Two” (why a movie about the Mafia feels like a Thanks-giving treat I don’t know, but it does) and sleeping blissfully, magically late.

Then of course there’s the food, too much of it but so what?!

I’ve been on a health kick all year; so chowing down on some good sinful eats really feels like throwing caution to the wind! The best part of course is sharing the meal with people you love. If it can’t be family by blood then do as I have done most of my life and share with family by love, sometimes a stronger bond my dears.

Thanksgiving weekend also brings up other things my dears; a time to think and discover what’s really on our minds; good and bad, to take inventory of what we have and what’s missing and yes, dears of course, it is a time to give thanks to the people who have been kind to us, the good things in life, the great moments.

In this economy, with so much strife and struggle, fear and pain all around us, it’s all the more important to try and find moments of joy and give them back twice fold.

I gave a home-less junkie a pint of sweet potato soup on Thursday and he answered, “Thanks now how bout a dollar!” Hey home-less junkies have their priorities after all.

And now we go into Sunday, the last day of this wondrous break. The sun is out and the park is calling. I have a kind wonderful person to spend this day with and I am thankful for this day and this person and this moment.

Monday is a lifetime away.

Happy t-day to you all my dears…
Share your joy.