Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is not the holiday itself but the way Americans celebrate it. The turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. The televised football. The parades. But especially, the turkey and fixings.

To say everyone in America eats the same Thanksgiving meal is, to be sure, a slight exaggeration. Every family puts its own stamp on the feast. Aunt Mary makes her special stuffing with the sausage and nuts. Uncle Chuck prefers whole cranberries to sauce.

The business of America is business, after all. Commercializing holidays is as American as Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. Yet somehow it's still comforting to think that this is a custom we Americans have embraced on our own, unprompted by those with a pecuniary interest in the outcome. The standard of living our business oriented culture has helped create is one of the things we give thanks for on Thanksgiving, but it's only one of them.

I am thankful to live in a country with such a wonderful way of giving thanks. However you decide to celebrate it, I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.