Ah!! Thanksgiving!!

Well, here it is again. Somebody started this harvest festival and it is still going on. I would bet it was some mighty hunter who shot a poor unsuspecting gobbler, took it home and presented it to the wife. The dutiful wife then proceeded to dress it (in cute little pants, and a hat with a buckle no doubt) and cook it.

Today, it is a traditional North American Holiday in the U.S. whose origins are still somewhat of a mystery, depending on whose rendition you read.

I think it was the male faction that decreed a feast of enormous proportions be placed on the breadwinner’s table. Different areas serve different ‘traditional’ foods, all as a sort of harvest festival, being thankful for a bountiful harvest.

I think it is mostly promoted by the male of the species as a day on which it is customary to stuff oneself and then retire to the ‘tube’ to watch sports while the little woman (or women as the case may be ) clean up the mess that took them several days to make in the kitchen.

I hate the thought of all the cooking of special treats and trying to outdo the previous year’s food orgy.

However, I get a lot of satisfaction from being able to bring a glorious meal to the table. Once the cooking is done, I am ready to ‘pig out’ provided I haven’t done so much tasting that I have become full! And it is wonderful to bask in the glow of compliments on my accomplishment. It makes the several days of work woth it. I can then look forward to the next feast, while serving a variety of turkey delights to the groans of ‘not turkey AGAIN!’ for the next week.

It wouldn’t be so bad if people would just clean the platter of turkey while it was still hot.

So this Thanksgiving, enjoy your merry making and giving of thanks while you eat the damned turkey!!

Hard Times

In these difficult times it is easy to become frustrated, even angry.  When this happens, it is easy to take it out on those around you.  I would hope that people come together and help each other rather than lash out. It is not your children or spouse’s fault if you are feeling the pinch. 

The temptation would be to get angry with any family member who asks for something that strains an already burdened budget.  One may feel inadequate when unable to provide for family members.  This can lead to unnecessary guilt which is undeserved.  Childen can be unreasonable, not understanding inflation.  Deal with them gently.  They are not guilty and deserve to be treated with care.

Christmas is coming and can be a season of stress under the best of circumstances.  I would suggest stretching the budget with gifts that are homemade, and hosting family pot lucks instead of lavish giving sprees.  Ladies can let their kitchen become gift central for other than the very young children.  The children can become involved with baking.  Cookies, sweet breads and other goodies make wonderful gifts.

Short on funds, thrift and second hand stores can be a treasure trove of gift ideas.  If you are crafty, vases can be made extra special with embellishments.  Photo albums make a terrific gift, and can be made more so if they reflect the individual’s happy times.  They can be embellished with special covers and done in a scrapbook theme.

Being an author (Mother’s Journals: parts1, 2 and 3 -   ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0) I support books as gifts.  Especially for the young.  Children’s books will promote reading and also give kids an activity that will last a long time.

The important thing is to not add stress to yourself at this time of year.

For love of spaghetti

How do you eat your spaghetti?

There are some people who use a knife and fork to cut it into small pieces. (Might as well be eating the famous ‘O’s’ in my opinion.)

There are those who stick a fork into it and twirl to get a blob on their utensil.

A variation on that would be the people who use their fork, and twirl it against a spoon to wind the noodle onto their utensil.

And the style that puts a portion in ones mouth and then sucks the rest in through puckered lips has been in many films and cartoons. (remember Lady and the Tramp?)

The old warning: ‘never eat spaghetti on a first date’ intrigues me. The way one eats must be a revealing look at their personality. I think any future first date I have will be over coffee. I can make a big enough mess out of that.

Kindness

How kind are we to other people?

Do we hold doors open for those behind us?

Are we courteous?

Do we smile at others?

It is a simple thing to do.  Being kind.  It costs us nothing. Smiles are free and the rewards are great.

If someone seems in a bad mood it is easy to cheer them with a smile or a kind word.  If they do not respond, that is okay, because they may be having a really bad day.  If the effects of our actions are not readily apparent, it still may not be wasted effort.  They may absorb our kindness later on when we are not around.

How often has a cheerful or kind word brightened our day?  It is easy to get lost in our own problems and ignore others.  A good way to avoid that is to live in the moment, and deal with things as they come, not dwelling on things beyond our control.

I have often wondered if those who get angry enough to take the lives of others do so due to the treatment they have received at the hands of those they are in contact with.  Those who have been constantly bullied could easily be pushed ‘over the edge’ to the brink of insanity.  One person can make a difference.  Can you be that one person?