Happy Thanksgiving Everyone,

I have shared this before, and thought I would again because it sums up my feelings and love of Thanksgiving. For me this is always a time for giving thanks.

Thanksgiving is uniquely an American holiday, first celebrated in the early 1600's, it was later proclaimed a national holiday in the 1800's. Although not a religious holiday, there is no better time to give thanks for family, friends and abundance. This day has its own special rituals; for my dad, it was giving us (the children) a very small bit of Concord Grape Manischewitz wine before the turkey was carved. I never figured out why Manishchewitz brand. Other rituals were watching football and the Macy's parade in New York City. I am not a football fan but I still enjoy watching the Macy's parade with its huge cartoon character floats. But mostly I look forward watching Laurel and Hardy's 'March of the Wooden Soldiers', 'Mighty Joe Young' and sometimes 'King Kong' as I move around the house. These old black and white movies have been constants in my life just as celebrating Thanksgiving has been. I look forward to them. The movies give me balance and remind me that another year has passed. During 'March of the Wooden Solders' I cheer when the wooden solder's march out to save the town.

As you grow older, you understand that family does not have to be a blood relative. As a child I was surrounded by neighbors who I now realize were my extended family. All of the old men (where they really so old or just that in my young mind?) who sat in front of my dad's barbershop, lined up like birds on a wire, drinking sodas and coffee, and gossiping. There was Mr. Harry who knew me as a child and later asked my poor husband the same question time after time "Boy, are you taking good care of my girl?"; earlier my mother's friend kept me supplied with little sample tubes of Avon lipstick. I was not allowed to wear lipstick but I felt incredibly special to have such precious grownup things. Mother's good friend, whom I called aunt, bought me a 'poodle skirt' because with six children my family could not spend extra money on what was obviously a nonessential item. Those of a certain age will know what a poodle skirt is (or was) and the importance of owning one.

Then there was Julian's mom (I only knew her as that) who allowed me to pay five cents for hard cover mystery novels from her secondhand store. In return my mother kept her supplied with fresh lemonade and ice cold Kool-Aid. Some of the authors I read then remain favorites today.

Later in life, as an adult, I had a friend who held open house every Thanksgiving and Christmas for friends who had no plans for these holidays. While I do have a large family, at that time I was working part time as well as full time and could not make real holiday plans because I worked most holidays. Going to my girlfriend's house provided a wonderful oasis for me. No matter what time you arrived, you were never too late for the festivities--you were always on time. These are such treasured memories.

All of us can make our own unique extended family. Choose your special family well and wisely, surround yourself with those who make you feel good and with whom you can share love.

I wish you peace, love, many blessings and a lovely holiday.

Vannie