Happy Thanksgiving
It's that time of year again. What I call the Trilogy Holidays are upon us -- Thanksgiving, Hanukkah/Christmas, and New Years. So with Thanksgiving nearest, I thought I would share some thoughts with you.
Before you say to yourself "Oh Pullleeese" and move your cursor to the X in the top right corner of your screen, I humbly ask that you not click on it and and read on.
Let me start by saying that I live in the state where the first Thanksgiving took place, even though it wasn't called Thanksgiving yet. Sorry y'all up there in Plymouth, Massachusetts, but Jamestown, Virginia was settled 13 years before yours was (in 1607 and 1620 respectively). For those of you who study history, you also know that the Jamestown residents almost did not make it through one of the coldest winters at the time. Many perished.
But enough of the history lesson. What is Paul thankful for?
First, and above all, are my two daughters who will celebrate the holiday remotely this year. Well, one is in France so maybe only one will celebrate the holiday. My daughters are my pride and joy and I could not be any more proud of them. They have grown into young adults who are pursing their own goals, and are now smarter than I could ever hope to be. But then again, isn't that every parent's wish for their children?
Next is my Italian heritage. I am second generation American; my maternal and paternal grandparents emigrated from Italy in the early 1900's. They became citizens and rapidly assimilated into American culture; yet, they added an Italian flair to Thanksgiving. During my childhood, I recall my aunts, uncles, and cousins sitting around the table. Before the traditional turkey was served, there was macaroni (we never called it pasta), meatballs, antipaste, and homemade "Minestra Mantata", commonly known as Italian Wedding Soup. The literal translation means "married soup", hence its connection to weddings. Then came the turkey and all the fixin's that we are all familiar with. My mother loved to cook and bake. She could make the best pumpkin and mince pies. I can remember sitting at the kids table. I thought that was so cool because I didn't have to worry about interrupting an adult who might be speaking, and then being duly chastised by my parents. Gaps in the conversation were few and far between. So when there was a lull you took full advantage of it by getting what you had to say out very quickly. For those that know me personally, now you know why I talk as fast as I do. Memories from childhood I guess. The time of my childhood has long passed. I am much older, and my parents, aunts, and uncles have now passed on. The family that I remember as a child is no more, save for a few cousins. So I cherish these childhood memories.
Oh, by the way, it really irks me when a child interrupts me when I am speaking without saying "excuse me". More memories from childhood.
Moving on, what would life be without friends. True friends which I wrote about in last week's blog. Lest I repeat myself, let me say that am thankful for those friends to whom I am very close, and love me in spite of myself. Yes love. Read what I said a about this in last week's blog.
Lastly, I am thankful for you. For my reading my attempts at composing prose, and visiting my web site regularly. I majored in Engineering in college. Creative writing was not part of my curriculum. So, much like many things in life, I am learning it as I go along. Will I ever be a John Steinbeck or an Ernest Hemingway? I think not. But then again, they probably never studied Differential Calculus, Thermodynamics, or Ohm's Law.
So Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the holiday wherever you may be. And I pray that you do not spend it alone.
Until next time,
Paul