The Enemy of Thanksgiving

How can it be? Can there possibly be  an entity, a person or thing that is anti Thanksgiving, that wishes to do it harm? I believe that the answer is yes an d that I have positively identified the culprit. This opponent is something  about which I have warned previously. But now, its nefarious tentacles have launched  a personal attack against our household. What is it? You should know by now, it is , it is the  evil cholesterol. Yes that despicable villain, that alters our diets, has taken away my potato chips,  and turned many of us into constant label readers at the grocery store.

Its stealthy approach has required Mrs THT to employ the use of medication to fight the battle. Now, don’t get me wrong. i am thankful for te medication for when one must, one must. But Thanksgiving, the feast of thanks, whatever one’s choice of food to feast upon, has been forced  to adjust.

So, adjust we have and adjust we will. No longer will one eat with no thought of consequence( except a few extra pounds) we will fight the good fight. Adios potato chips, it is Utz no more. Popcorn has surpassed you as a weapon keep ourselves healthy. I trust your day of thanks was blessed, enjoyable  and a healthy as possible. We know the enemy, it is not us, but those choices that can and will be improved. (As long a sI can drink Mello-Yello, that is.) Didn’t  Snoopy serve popcorn on A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving? Sure he did. Always the role model, that beagle.

At long last, after a stealthy attack, the inhibiter of the e njoyment of food has forced Mrs THT onto medication, a swell a sdietary adjustments.

The Forgotten Holiday

Wanted to get this out a little ahead of time. My far and away #1 candidate for the most forgotten holiday is Thanksgiving. Overwhelmed by the growth in Halloween preparation and paraphernalia on the one hand and the holiday shopping season on the other, the humble day of thanks has no chance. Perhaps it even should get a new name. Oh, how about Holiday Shopping Eve. Since the Friday afterwards is known as Black Friday and people must shop or else, it makes perfect sense. Rest up on Thursday, forget the big meal and hit the mall and Wal-Mart  ASAP.

In my family, I am sometimes indicted as one who “hates” holidays, modern-day Scrooge, if you will. But Thanksgiving, now that is one that I like. Can’t really eat as I once could, but that’s not  a problem. The food is just a backdrop, I think for the reconnecting with family that we wish were more commonplace.

I remember with great fondness songs like, “Come, Ye Thankful People Come and  “Over the river and through the wood”. If my memory does not totally fail me, we even sang some of those in elementary school. Not so sure that would happen today.

I know, I know all of the stories about the 1st Thanksgiving are not 100% accurate but there are elements from  that day that remain with us. The day itself has only been a federal holiday since 1941 and who knew what was going to happen in just a couple of weeks. obviously, there are stong religious  underpinnings but the day is much more secular now than religious. Wonder how long it has been since families actually started eating out  on Thanksgiving, have even done  that myself. Perhaps the pressure to create a culinary masterpiece has just become  too great. Here’s  a thought, it doesn’t have to be  a biiiggg deal meal to be a time for thanks. I will admit that Snoopy’s thanksgiving meal left  a bit to be desired though.

I understand that the First Family does not give Christmas gifts to their children and that’s ok. Hope they celebrate Thanksgiving though. And, if you need a little extra something for which to give  thanks, try this link, militaryfamiliespray. That could include those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Ft Hood and… you get the picture.

The Presidency

Perhaps this will evolve into a series, dont quite know yet but it is a fascinating  subject to explore . We just elected Barack Obama as the 44th President of these United States . This of course means that as Obama’s inauguration that 43 men will have served as president ( for shame if you dont know who served twice )

Anyway , there are doubtless an unlimited number of ways to approach a subject that truly impacts all of us . For the past few years , I have had a ” goal ” of  reading at least one book about each of our presidents . So far , I have attempted to do this by only using our local library . At this point , I am 11 of 43 which is not so good . I am learning of the difficulty in finding readable books about fellows such as Polk, Fillmore, Harrison etc . Some of the other choices involve enormously lengthy tomes that were written years ago . Of course there are numerous choices for Lincoln, Washington, the Roosevelts et al. But I shall persevere , however slowly .

I can however recommend without equivocation a dvd series on the presidents that you can obtain at thehistorychannel.com.  I have seen most of theses when originally aired and they are worth a look . I hope Santa reads this post and I may get to view them again .

Enough for presidential intro, more to follow.

Have a blessed and happy thanksgiving, may it last longer than the food .

Shalom.

Thanksgiving = Thanksliving

I thought it best to say something about the 4th Thursday  of November before it arrives since I consider it  a day worth far more credit than it gets . We have all read about Pilgrims, Indians ( Squanto ) and the early celebrations . Today  I suppose a mention of Thanksgiving produces images of turkey and dressing , my personal favorite of pumpkin pie , maybe football and maybe even the dreaded feeling of being as stuffed as the ole turkey himself .

First a bit of history , courtesy of thehistorychannel.com . The ist Thanksgiving dates back to 1621 and includes some surprises . First those present:

1. Venison , seal and turkey among others
2. Cod and eel
3. Goose, duck and swan
4. Indian corn

Not present :

1. Pumpkin pie
2. Cranberry sauce
3. Corn on the cob

President Lincoln declared  a national day of thanks during the Civil War  but the day did not become an official holiday until  1941 . Now , alas its probably known best as the day before Black Friday , that most American of days, the biggest shopping day of the year ( and u can have it )

So can we reclaim it as a day of thanks , doubtful, and do we need to ? The Scriptures tell us the following in I Thessolonians 5:18

In everything give thanks , for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus .

Now that can put us in a bit of a quandry . Lord , what about ? Yes , my child . But you cant mean for  me to be thankful that I’m sick or mistreated or unemployed or 100 other things , can you ? Can He and does He ?

The key to me is a little word – in – . Perhaps some will me as oversimplifying and perhaps I am . I generally taught that way . Not give thanks for everything but continue  to give thanks no matter the circumstances .( contentment vs happiness ) He is there for us and with us no matter and for that we really can give thanks .

Happy Thanksgiving !!!!!!!

Shalom .

Carolina Blues

I knew I should have done it sooner . i should have written this on November 8, no matter how late  I got home . Then the sense of euphoria would have still been present . But now, a scant 15 days later , the euphoria has departed, has been probably ran under the bed and hidden , afraid to emerge lest it be bashed once again into submission.

On November 8 , my wife and I met my youngest sister and her husband in Chapel Hill for our first Tar Heel football game in more than a decade . The day began early  and ominously with rain and clouds for much of our westward trek . But miraculously , blue skies appeared near Orange County ( if God’s not a Tarheel, why is the sky Carolina Blue ?  Sorry, couldnt resist ? ) and the weather cooperated the rest of the day .

Thanks to my brother-in-law , A UNC grad , the logistics to the stadium as well as our seats were flawless .Both my wife and I love the atmosphere of college football in Chapel Hill . The band , the cheerleaders, the message boards ( really cool ) the Famous Rameses XXII ( not sure about the number ) mascot with his tasteful blue horns , the food, the pregame , halftime etc . Oh yes the game was excellent, a 28-7 Carolina win over Georgia Tech .

One thing surprised me a bit , I found myself a bit overcome with emotion during the pregame buildup  but finally decided that was ok . Ah, postgame , the alma mater and the cup collecting were highlights. Cannot wait till next year .

Being an unfortunate pessimist particularly when it come to Carolina football, we arrive at part deux . The very next gane , the Heels were poised for a big road win that would have put them into position for a shot at the ACC championship which they have havent won since 1980 . Alas and alack ,  a late field doomed that and brought back my sense of limited predicting . I think that in the course of a Carolina game i can often tell the outcome, usually a loss. My wife thinks this is bunch of hooey but I doubt it.

Anyway, yesterday , another golden  opportunity , Senior Day against an archrival from Wake County . we were favored and so what happens, an early Thanksgiving, the Heels turned the game into a turkey shoot for the opposition and lost big . Oh well, one more game and then a low level bowl game when it could have been so much more . Hang in there fellows , next year will be better . Besides the women’s soccer team  is still on the march !!