One of the thanksgiving rituals my Dad never liked was going around and having everyone tell one thing they were thankful for. I remember him one thanksgiving hoping that we wouldn't do it that year and that was the year where it was to say five things we were thankful for. That was tough too because if you are at the end of the line you really had to strech to come up with something nobody else had already mentions. The first people would take the easy ones, for family, for having everyone together, etc. By the end it was like "I'm thankful for indoor plumbing, duct tape, um.. liquid soap, and um...."

It's totally for Native Americans, too! The First Thanksgiving was when the whiteys and the red man sat down together!!

Why does thanksgiving rule? It's a day you get off simply to eat a big meal. You don't have to buy gifts and you get Friday off, too! That's why it rules, although why it is important? It's not.

Really mostly this, though. No obligation except eating. Possibly cooking.

Thanksgiving is the holiday that has always been best for me. I hesitate to say meaning - because doesn't really work. I think I like it because it is a day in the middle of nowhere and what it is all about is stopping,and really enjoying a slow pace for a day. The only expections for things happening is the big meal. and oddly, it is just as much fun if there are 2 people or 20 people. When I was a kid and football was on tv I sat in the family room and read a book. as I got older - more talking and hanging and then cooking. I love thanksgiving now. My sister and I cook all the stuff that can be cooked before Thanksgiving. My DH and BIL cook the turkey, stuffing and gravy on tday. We go for walks, watch movies, and talk. But we have other fun ones where we head to VT and make pies after dinner and try to do the dishes before my SIL knows we have done them.

I like a slow leisurely day. it is hard to do on my own - and haveing everyone else move at that pace is good. I'm working on getting christmas more like that.

The First Thanksgiving was when the whiteys and the red man sat down together!!

Isn't Thanksgiving, then, a big yell of "No takebacks!!!!"?

Isn't Thanksgiving, then, a big yell of "No takebacks!!!!"?

Um, we don't need to yell that anymore. Due to the smallpox and general genocidal tendencies of the white man. But that one day? Man, that was nice. They gave us maize and oysters and whatnot, and we gave them a big hearty handshake. The bad stuff came later.

The First Thanksgiving was when the whiteys and the red man sat down together!!

Pretty much the high point of that relationship from the native side.

Pretty much the high point of that relationship from the native side.

That's what I'm thinking. I'm not sure how grateful I'd be about that day, myself.

DAMNIT. My spiced pecans are too salty. I am peeved.

I don't actually think Native Americans should be all over Thanksgiving, you understand.

Jessica: you'll just have to make more to dilute.

Jesse is wise.

I can also just add a little more sugar to this batch and stick 'em back in the oven for a bit.