Just a few days before the biggest gastronomical day of the year, Thanksgiving. And if you bought a frozen turkey, you should probably begin thawing it out now.
Every year This holiday rolls around, I remember the international phone call I made to my mother while stationed in Holland. It was the first holiday I spent in Europe with my first wife. I explained to my mother we were hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for our friends and how I had to describe Thanksgiving to my new Dutch wife. My mother asked me, "They don't celebrate Thanksgiving there?" I paused before I answered, "No Mom, Thanksgiving is an American holiday." My mother only could finish the 8th grade as a child, and was savvy, but not the way of the world. But she sure knew her way around the kitchen, God bless her. Mom never taught me how to cook, but with the help of friends and some Dutch cookbooks we all survived the dinner, and had a well deserved nap afterwards.
To me, I take Thanksgiving to heart. I mean, it is a day to give thanks for all you have. And as I get older, that means more and more to me. Some days when I hear how bad some people have it, I look around and see how much we have in life and I am amazed. We live in a free country and can do most anything we want without having to show papers to some solider guarding the border. (not yet anyway) We have free access to fresh meats, breads, fruits and cakes. It is not rationed. Our phone calls are not monitored by a government agency (I don't think) We buy cloths that in style, while our old ones are thrown away or donated. Some of the donated one are picked over by people in dire need in war torn countries or poverty stricken.
I was never rich as a child, and still am not as an adult. Comfortable, yes. But as a kid, we also had the biggest meal of the year. So much, I'd usually eat too much. My most loved food were Brown 'n ' Serve rolls and Fruit Cake, yes, Fruit cake. I love it. But the thing I am most thankful for today is my family, my country, and my freedom. I guess if you have never been in a War Zone you may not recognize that so easily. So many people, countries, are so poor or destitute, they literally go through garbage dumps and rubbish containers to find the smallest morel of edible food to survive. There are many people in this country that are in that same boat too.
When we were in Egypt a few years ago, we were walking to restaurant for dinner. As we crossed a street, I saw a very slender elderly lady dressed in black sitting on the curb digging through the debris in the street gutter. I saw her pick up a soggy piece of bread. As we passed, she torn it in half and she raised it up offering it to me. It broke my heart. I stopped and with almost tears in my eyes she smiled and I told her "Thank you".
We have it pretty damn good here in America, and it was not easy getting here, but we have people who are still trying to put an end to our good and free country.
So what I am asking you to do when join friends and family in your version of a Thanksgiving dinner, is to ask everyone around the table, what they are thankful for. We do this at our table and the family loves it. It make you think and realize what you have and how lucky we all are for those things … especially friends and family. Be thankful today, on Thursday and everyday. And say a pray for those who do not have good food, warm clothing, shelter and freedom. God bless you all.
