Very thankful for WDB and many of the same things you listed, but we must acknowledge something:
While Thanksgiving meals are delicious, the amount of time spent enjoying them compared to the amount of time spent prepping and doing the dishes afterward is an objectively bad ratio (although the leftover factor helps a bit).
I love this holiday for all the reasons the author has cited. No running around stressing out over what presents to buy (it's impossible to find something for a wife with far better taste than I have and there's only so many times you can give a Burke Williams spa gift, especially when you see three older ones sitting unused in her closet), just grocery shopping (early) and a house gradually filling with the wonderful smell of turkey and stuffing cooking. Then the arrival of family who you genuinely love to see, and soon the family room is full of laughter as cousins (all of whom seem to share a genetic sense of humor) bust each other's chops in a give and take so natural and easy it's hard to believe how rarely they're actually together. This year it was great to be dragged into the beer pong contest by the younger crowd and to hear Susan's delighted laugh as she dropped bombs into multiple cups. And when we all sat down together at the beautiful table she'd set, I could look at the faces of family I treasure, then to the remarkable owner of the brain that wrote this blog and finally to the amazing woman at the other end of the table who has made this house into the kind of warm, welcoming place that makes people take planes and five hour car rides at a crazy time of the year so they can share a meal and a couple of days with us. And if that weren't enough, this year, instead of the mano a mano golf game my brother and I play the day after, we were joined by my now golf addicted son in a new tradition we hope to continue for years to come. Even though my brother won the match, it was still a joy, and another reminder, as the author notes, of how lucky we are.
My favorite holiday! I like that there is no religious connotation to it. It's just family and friends giving thanks and appreciation of one another surrounded by the yummiest meal ever! Gobble gobble!! xxx
Thanksgiving is, beyond a doubt, my favorite holiday. Over 20 loved ones from all.over gathered to eat too much, drink too much and laugh not nearly enough. It's everyone's holiday. No religious ceremonies. No political implications. Just family and friends and indigestion
Will, before I respond to your most recent blog, I'd like to send you this quote : "An artist is not one who is inspired, but who can inspire others" Salvador Dali. That's what you do with your musings...inspire others !
I'm a huge fan of Thanksgiving, as it was my late father's favorite holiday, it had nothing to do with anything religious or otherwise, 'twas about family.
This appears to be the driving force of your celebration, save for "beer pong". I greatly appreciate your shout out to your mom to be nominated to receive the Mother Teresa dashboard statuette for all her "behind-the-scenes" work to have your Thanksgiving be a "militarily-timed" success.
We, the LA Lipsons, have been hosting the usual & unusual suspects since we moved into our home in 1994, and except for Thanksgiving 2020, our home has been filled with celebrants from 10 to 20 people, who have traveled near & far to join us. UNTIL, this year...when sliding down our chimney was not Santa Claus, but COVID CLAUS, who had the unmitigated gall to infect our hostess with the mostest...our own personal Santa Evita...necessitating emailing our 11 guests and informing them that a grinch has stolen Thanksgiving right from under us.
With both our guys in different parts of the world, our first Thanksgiving EVER, sans sons...and our usual suspects...we dined at opposite ends of a very long table bearing festive decorations and lit candles adorning our meal...there was no background music...oh so surreal, like a Luis Buñuel film.
I would proffer that your family has a tradition of throwing fantastic parties. Also, you should not waste your beer calories on Coors lite but instead come to Asheville for some real beer. Nonetheless, another fine Gen XYZ observation of the world — and something for which I am thankful. 😎
I don’t love Thanksgiving as much as I used to back in the NY days , it was way more fun with the older generation of relatives where my dad, who made a feast was the Archie Bunker of the house and an uncle or two fell asleep in the tub or on the toilet and the other one , who lived across the street from John Gotti in Howard Beach , went to work on Thanksgiving at the LIRR , and got double time and always came home with reading glasses found on the train for all of us.
Oh, and the football on Thanksgiving, where the old man would send me up to the roof , risking life and limb to point the antenna towards the Empire State Building , while never moving out of his chair .
Oh , did I mention we were the first house on our block with two TV’s , one with sound and one with a picture stacked on top of one another. It’s furniture Billy, and he made sure those channels were changed at the same time, well, you get the picture.
I have the new generation now, Two daughters and 4 grandchildren running around , it’s more hectic and and a little less fun , in a different way , it’s tough to watch football and the antenna? Well, there isn’t antenna anywhere to be seen . The in-laws have pictures of crucifixes all over the house , so if someone chokes to death on a wishbone they go straight to heaven.
And…… there are Republicans with conspiracy theories in my midst , but we do get through it , except this year where people including me had Covid so we had to punt , some were in some were out , but all the football games were decided by just one score.
Sounds very familiar, particularly the appropriate recognition of what your Mom does. Same with the matriarch here. Lot to be thankful for . We had 16 here. 2 sat out in the back due to recent Covid. But , I am envious of not having family beer pong. We may steal that one. PS. It is also always a “ politics free zone “ . Although we were all thankful for the election results as evidence that democracy is hanging in there
We always celebrate Thanksgiving, The family usually gathers at my home or at my sister in law's.. This year was a little different in that both of us moved from the South Bay to the Santa Ynez Valley. We still had a large group but we were missing Nick and Jennifer. We don't make a big deal out of it but we have a traditional thanksgiving dinner and I am always grateful for the abundance of blessings I have been provided.
Will, I think your T-day essay illustrates how Thanksgiving is the ultimate American Holiday: One where our past (well at least the idealized version) and our present mesh together in an overflowing bowl of mashed potatoes doused with gravy. It's an occasion free of religious obligations and connotations and latent militarism. It reminds us that we depend on our land and water, and the people who work them, and we depend on each other to find our way to satisfaction and happiness. Enjoy, indulge, and keep the Rolaids handy.
Very thankful for WDB and many of the same things you listed, but we must acknowledge something:
While Thanksgiving meals are delicious, the amount of time spent enjoying them compared to the amount of time spent prepping and doing the dishes afterward is an objectively bad ratio (although the leftover factor helps a bit).
I love this holiday for all the reasons the author has cited. No running around stressing out over what presents to buy (it's impossible to find something for a wife with far better taste than I have and there's only so many times you can give a Burke Williams spa gift, especially when you see three older ones sitting unused in her closet), just grocery shopping (early) and a house gradually filling with the wonderful smell of turkey and stuffing cooking. Then the arrival of family who you genuinely love to see, and soon the family room is full of laughter as cousins (all of whom seem to share a genetic sense of humor) bust each other's chops in a give and take so natural and easy it's hard to believe how rarely they're actually together. This year it was great to be dragged into the beer pong contest by the younger crowd and to hear Susan's delighted laugh as she dropped bombs into multiple cups. And when we all sat down together at the beautiful table she'd set, I could look at the faces of family I treasure, then to the remarkable owner of the brain that wrote this blog and finally to the amazing woman at the other end of the table who has made this house into the kind of warm, welcoming place that makes people take planes and five hour car rides at a crazy time of the year so they can share a meal and a couple of days with us. And if that weren't enough, this year, instead of the mano a mano golf game my brother and I play the day after, we were joined by my now golf addicted son in a new tradition we hope to continue for years to come. Even though my brother won the match, it was still a joy, and another reminder, as the author notes, of how lucky we are.
We had two tables at our home this year. And Chris spatchcocked the Turkey, too. Miss your faces! ❤️❤️❤️
My favorite holiday! I like that there is no religious connotation to it. It's just family and friends giving thanks and appreciation of one another surrounded by the yummiest meal ever! Gobble gobble!! xxx
Thanksgiving is, beyond a doubt, my favorite holiday. Over 20 loved ones from all.over gathered to eat too much, drink too much and laugh not nearly enough. It's everyone's holiday. No religious ceremonies. No political implications. Just family and friends and indigestion
Will, before I respond to your most recent blog, I'd like to send you this quote : "An artist is not one who is inspired, but who can inspire others" Salvador Dali. That's what you do with your musings...inspire others !
I'm a huge fan of Thanksgiving, as it was my late father's favorite holiday, it had nothing to do with anything religious or otherwise, 'twas about family.
This appears to be the driving force of your celebration, save for "beer pong". I greatly appreciate your shout out to your mom to be nominated to receive the Mother Teresa dashboard statuette for all her "behind-the-scenes" work to have your Thanksgiving be a "militarily-timed" success.
We, the LA Lipsons, have been hosting the usual & unusual suspects since we moved into our home in 1994, and except for Thanksgiving 2020, our home has been filled with celebrants from 10 to 20 people, who have traveled near & far to join us. UNTIL, this year...when sliding down our chimney was not Santa Claus, but COVID CLAUS, who had the unmitigated gall to infect our hostess with the mostest...our own personal Santa Evita...necessitating emailing our 11 guests and informing them that a grinch has stolen Thanksgiving right from under us.
With both our guys in different parts of the world, our first Thanksgiving EVER, sans sons...and our usual suspects...we dined at opposite ends of a very long table bearing festive decorations and lit candles adorning our meal...there was no background music...oh so surreal, like a Luis Buñuel film.
Thanks(giving) for sharing yours!
I would proffer that your family has a tradition of throwing fantastic parties. Also, you should not waste your beer calories on Coors lite but instead come to Asheville for some real beer. Nonetheless, another fine Gen XYZ observation of the world — and something for which I am thankful. 😎
I don’t love Thanksgiving as much as I used to back in the NY days , it was way more fun with the older generation of relatives where my dad, who made a feast was the Archie Bunker of the house and an uncle or two fell asleep in the tub or on the toilet and the other one , who lived across the street from John Gotti in Howard Beach , went to work on Thanksgiving at the LIRR , and got double time and always came home with reading glasses found on the train for all of us.
Oh, and the football on Thanksgiving, where the old man would send me up to the roof , risking life and limb to point the antenna towards the Empire State Building , while never moving out of his chair .
Oh , did I mention we were the first house on our block with two TV’s , one with sound and one with a picture stacked on top of one another. It’s furniture Billy, and he made sure those channels were changed at the same time, well, you get the picture.
I have the new generation now, Two daughters and 4 grandchildren running around , it’s more hectic and and a little less fun , in a different way , it’s tough to watch football and the antenna? Well, there isn’t antenna anywhere to be seen . The in-laws have pictures of crucifixes all over the house , so if someone chokes to death on a wishbone they go straight to heaven.
And…… there are Republicans with conspiracy theories in my midst , but we do get through it , except this year where people including me had Covid so we had to punt , some were in some were out , but all the football games were decided by just one score.
That sounds like a wonderful and magical time, Will!!
I too love Thanksgiving. The food, the family, the gratitude... always a special combination.
Sounds very familiar, particularly the appropriate recognition of what your Mom does. Same with the matriarch here. Lot to be thankful for . We had 16 here. 2 sat out in the back due to recent Covid. But , I am envious of not having family beer pong. We may steal that one. PS. It is also always a “ politics free zone “ . Although we were all thankful for the election results as evidence that democracy is hanging in there
We always celebrate Thanksgiving, The family usually gathers at my home or at my sister in law's.. This year was a little different in that both of us moved from the South Bay to the Santa Ynez Valley. We still had a large group but we were missing Nick and Jennifer. We don't make a big deal out of it but we have a traditional thanksgiving dinner and I am always grateful for the abundance of blessings I have been provided.
Nice column Will.
Will, I think your T-day essay illustrates how Thanksgiving is the ultimate American Holiday: One where our past (well at least the idealized version) and our present mesh together in an overflowing bowl of mashed potatoes doused with gravy. It's an occasion free of religious obligations and connotations and latent militarism. It reminds us that we depend on our land and water, and the people who work them, and we depend on each other to find our way to satisfaction and happiness. Enjoy, indulge, and keep the Rolaids handy.