Admittedly, I am one of those people really uncomfortable with the traditional US Thanksgiving origin story, especially since I have ancestors who were there on both sides of that particular piece of history. Probably most of us who are descended from the early settlers in the US are like that, since the settlers and the people who were already there seemed to hook up a lot when they weren’t attacking each other. As with most historical eras, I have a feeling that there were people who were good to each other and those who were not. Anyway…
…what I do like about Thanksgiving is the idea of an entire day to remember to be thankful for the abundance you have, your family, and your friends. That’s what I celebrate every year…that and delicious food, especially my oyster cornbread dressing and my orange/ginger cranberry sauce. I could probably get through the day with just those and a baked sweet potato.
Traditions
I also truly love Thanksgiving traditions. I know some families play a game of football or soccer, others go on a hike or fun run. Others do puzzles. Ours used to be getting together to make music, though with the older son in a winter wonderland in Colorado this year (and not communicating with our side of the family), that won’t happen. What’s yours?
The Sweetest Work Tradition
I may have mentioned that where I work in Austin, Planview, always has a lovely Thanksgiving meal the week before the actual holiday. The CEO always gives a talk about how much each of us matter, etc.
But, we also have a tradition I just love, and that’s what I call “Hugsgiving,” and they call Operation Turkey. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, two of the men in the Customer Care group put on very undignified turkey outfits and roam the building, looking for people who haven’t taken the day off. When they find them, they give them a big old hug.
It’s just the sweetest thing ever. I’m not a big hugger, but these guys I’ll hug every year. It’s just the best start to the week of gratitude. I enjoyed hearing happy squeals and laughter ringing throughout the giant open cavern that is our office.
Gratitude just isn’t hard to find, is it?
The Hermits' Rest 
We do Thanksgiving with my Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, and little cousin (Dad’s side) on Thanksgiving Day. This is after me and the boys go to my Dad’s to eat pecan pie or cheese cake and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Then we have a “big thing” at my house the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year. Dad is always there, and other guests change each year depending on scheduling. There will come a year that all 30 people invited every year actually all show up. That will be a fun one! This year, I think, we are at 16 that are planning to be there including the people who already live there and my dad. We play games, tell jokes (you’re shocked I know), there is usually some kind of Christmas movie (usually “Scrooged”) playing, and of course all of the kids run everywhere going crazy on their sugar high before I stuff them full of turkey to make them go to sleep.
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