Thanksgiving is in two days. It kicks off the Holiday season. The major retail stores like Wal-mart, Target and Best Buy are advertising their “black Friday” deals. The problem is that stores open to their day of terrific deals earlier every year. This year Wal-mart will open at 8:00 PM on Thursday. I guess we will have to call it “black Thursday”? Or, “black Thanksgiving Day”. I sense a trend here. More emphasis on shopping. Less care about Thanksgiving.
Two Grandsons joined Grasshopper No.4 and myself at the Badger football game on Saturday. It was the second home game in a row that the Badgers lost in overtime. Grandson Tommy attended both losing games. There seems to be a trend here! Grandson Mitchell got his wish to attend “the” game of the year.
I understand Grandson Dominic was deer hunting on opening weekend. That has to be a thrill. There is a thing call “buck fever”. You don’t know until you come face to face with a deer whether you will stay calm or “freeze up” and become unable to pull the trigger. I’m pretty sure Dominic would stay calm (maybe not on the inside). I’m waiting for a picture of his first deer to be e-mailed to my internet website.
In the 1940’s and 1950’s, Thanksgiving was a family gathering. It was food and family bonding. I remember that in Plymouth, a small town of 4000 people, the whole community shutdown. There was no Wal-mart to offer “black Friday”. There was no McDonalds for french fries and soda. Movie theaters were silent (to use a pun). Taverns, drugstores and grocery stores were all closed. Maybe, if you were lucky, there was one gas station in town that stayed open. For one day during the year, there was truly peace. It created a time to reflect on all one’s blessings.
From your Mom and myself, have a Happy Thanksgiving and may your blessings be bountiful. Hug someone!
Love,
Dad