Thanksgiving

This is the first Thanksgiving Day I have been away from home. When I was a child, I remember walking downstairs into the den about this time of the morning and smelling the smell of five dishes cooking simultaneously. My Grandmother was over and helping my mother with the meal. Some families ate closer to dinner, but we always eat around noon. As I was rubbing the sleep out of the eyes, I would awake to find the Macy's Parade playing on the television in the den. Like many, we kept the distinctly American custom of putting something on television but not even feigning much to watch it. I think the parade is everyone's background visual/white noise for the morning, kind of like that Yule Log film one sees around Christmas time.

If it were up to me, everyone would be off on Thanksgiving Day to spend time with their families. I feel sorry for the nurses who have to work today and take care of us, though I have been told they are getting holiday pay. I'm tempted not not to travel off of the ward today so that I am one less person on the streets that someone has to contend with on a holiday. Some places are open, but many are not. Everyone here has been jumping up and down about going to Old Navy to shop but I'd rather be caught dead than actively support child labor. Still, the fact that they've kept their doors open does insinuate that they are in financial trouble and so far as I'm concerned, they can go under for all I care.

I will also be observing this timely holiday tomorrow in lieu of Black Friday. Anyone wish to join me? In addition to being socially conscious, you'll also not have to worry about finding a place to park. Nor will you have to fight your way through the crowds.




When I was in college and working in a shopping mall, if only people had followed this advice on the Day after Thanksgiving.