Turkey Day (Gobble Gobble)

It's that time of year again -- Thanksgiving -- and as I write this I hear a band blaring from the Macy's Parade. There were many floats -- from one promoting female engineers to Snoopy -- and along came various singers and, and, advertisements. But oh well, I'll be a little less snarky today and realize: Christmas is literally less than a month away!

So hold on to your hats, the repetitive music and red bows and Christmas lights are now in season, and it's time to put up the tree. That is one of my favorite things about the season: Christmas lights. But first, let's not get carried away by Christmas chatter so we can focus on Thanksgiving.

Our country is a land of immigration. We always have been, always will be. I'm pretty sure I have some ancestors who arrived around the same time as our favorite topic -- the Pilgrims -- but that doesn't really matter. Thanksgiving is a symbol of how far we've come. Think about the first Thanksgiving ever, back in the 1600s with the Indians and the English separatists, and imagine the weather, how cold it would be outside.

We have so much to be thankful for. I'm sitting inside, wrapped in a blanket, about to have some delicious turkey, deviled eggs, stuffing, and more. Meanwhile there are people less fortunate in other countries who are wondering about their next meal. We should help these souls, no doubt, and be reminded that despite all the ills and stress of our lives, we've got freedom and turkey. That sounds pretty American to me.

Enjoy your festive day, don't become a balloon, and stay warm.

--K

P.S. For those of you from elsewhere -- eat away too! This day isn't just American. Everyone around the world has so much to be proud of and thankful for!

Be thankful for your country and your freedom!