Thanksgiving is the Rodney Dangerfield of holidays and special events throughout the year. You remember Dangerfield, the comedian who used to appear regularly on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in the 70s and 80s and complain that he had a tough life. Like Dangerfield, Thanksgiving “gets no respect.”
For example, most folks celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and President’s Day with a day off from work. Independence Day comes with day off from work and a special treat: fireworks. You have the religious holidays too. Easter, obviously rocks because Jesus died for our sins and has risen and, oh yea, a crazy little Easter bunny delivers candy and Peeps for good little boys and girls.
You have Memorial Day, a solemn day to remember all those who fought and died for our country. You have Labor Day, a ho-hum day as far as holidays go, but will always have the love and affinity of school children, because it means one last holiday before school really kicks into gear.
Greedy St. Nick
Thanksgiving should rank higher in the pecking order, but for whatever reason has taken a step back over the years to Christmas. The big box retailers and grocery stores put out the Halloween candy in August and when Halloween finally hits, the stores jump straight into Christmas. Old Saint Nick has all of December to himself, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians who gathered at Plymouth for America’s first Thanksgiving deserve a little bit of celebration too.
Pass the turkey and stuffing
Why is Thanksgiving special? Why does it deserve a little more love?
Give me another day through out the year when you grab a hot chocolate, cuddle with the family, and watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV; tune into football from noon until midnight; stuff yourself eating turkey and mashed potatoes; take a guilt-free nap whenever you want; beat the crap out of your family or neighbor in a friendly game of two-hand touch football; and chill out the rest of the day?
Thanksgiving is a great day. Who’s with me? Let’s give it the respect it deserves.
I’ve made it a habit over the past few years to list a few of the things I’m thankful for. Here’s this year’s list:
- My family.
- Good friends, near and far.
- A possible downturn to Covid. Oh, it may never go away completely, but my family has all been able to get the vaccine and soon the booster and we’ll be able to celebrate this year with extended family. I won’t take that for granted ever again.
- Last year this time, our oldest son was deployed in the U.S. Marines. He won’t be home for Thanksgiving, but still returned home safe to the states. We’re grateful for his safety.
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
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