Yesterday was Thanksgiving in America, a holiday which originated when the Pilgrims gave thanks for a bountiful harvest. The strife of the first immigrants to North America is well documented. Many died from harsh conditions and lack of food. And even when the first settlers turned the earstern settlements into thriving towns and cities, the subsequent settlers dealt with similar challenges as they progessed westward.
Fast forward to the 1980′ and 1990’s. The memory of ancestral strif had been displaced by how one could survive Thanksgiving dinner with an assortment of relatives. Hollywood had annual offerings along this theme portrayed in films like Home for the Holidays, a 1995 release starring Jodie Foster. These films were followed-up with the ‘it’s-OK-to-spend-the-holidays-with-friends versions. Which it is.
But there are still people who aspire to live a life where two people marry, have children, and are able to celebrate a few days of giving thanks each year. Year in and year out. This takes time. Time to ferret out people’s concerns. Time to plan for the extra shopping and cleaning and prep. It takes time to communicate with everyone. It takes time to circle back and confirm. It takes time to get along.
This year I give thanks for family time.
Home Economics 