My Nickel’s Worth
Thanksgiving season is calming to me. I look forward to fall leaves, cool weather, thankful posts on social media, and the pure wholesome goodness of a holiday which is less stressful than Christmas. I dream about turkey and creamy mashed potatoes. Believe it or not, I missed Thanksgiving last year. Completely missed it.
Last year, my grandparents flew us all to Europe for the week of Thanksgiving to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. It was an amazing adventure with family and friends, and I was truly thankful for the experience. After several days in Paris, France (enjoying the most wonderful sites—including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the now partially destroyed Notre Dame), we headed to London on the Chunnel. We went to Windsor Castle, saw the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, toured Oxford University and the Shakespeare Globe Theater, the London Eye, and even went to Stonehenge! Now don’t get me wrong--I truly was thankful to be enjoying a dream vacation, but what made this different than our trip to Europe a few years before-- was that we were gone during Thanksgiving--my favorite holiday.
My mother had tried her best to reserve a Thanksgiving meal for us in London at the Hard Rock Café, which was one of the only restaurants acknowledging our American holiday. On Thankgiving Day, we went shopping at Harrod’s and then headed to Hard Rock. We showed our reservation tickets to the restaurant manager, and they told us there had been an error, and they did not have us on the list. So, on Thanksgiving Day, we ate burgers and fries and then took a taxi back to our hotel. It was crazy how Thanksgiving was just another Thursday in Europe. No pumpkin pie. No turkey. Just crazy loud music and a burger. One of our taxi drivers told us he enjoyed the great black Friday sales on-line from American stores—but had no idea about the American Thanksgiving.
This year I have been looking so forward to Thanksgiving. It has been two years since I celebrated it. I dream about my Nana’s hot rolls and rich chocolate pie. I love thinking about seeing my cousins and family and playing football in the backyard with the little kids. I love the time between Halloween and Thanksgiving, when everyone is anticipated the holiday and enjoying those calm, happy moments. But, this year—everyone is trying to skip Thanksgiving—and these people--these anti-Thanksgiving--are living among us--in America!
People are posting on social media that they are putting up their Christmas trees. Decorations are going on houses. I can’t believe it. When I walk into a store and hear Christmas music playing, I feel cheated. I refuse to miss Thanksgiving again!
For those of you who like to go from Halloween to Christmas without taking the time to enjoy Thanksgiving, please stop it! Thanksgiving is an All-American holiday which gives us time to reflect on our Creator, our country, our family and friends, and to just be thankful. Take it from someone who missed Thanksgiving last year, you don’t want to live in a country where Thanksgiving is just another day, so take the time to enjoy this amazing holiday—and put those Christmas decorations back in the attic until Dec 1.