Thanks for the day

 

This day in November is the day we are to give thanks, following the tradition of the Puritans who invaded this country and under their religious delusions feasted with the folks who were already living here on their abundance before they decided to drive them off.

This one day in November is the day the banks shut down and the government offices close and families gather to travel far and wide to sit around a table and gorge with football in the background and plenty of libations. The conversations at the dining table might be catching up on lost connections with photos on phones or battles over opposing preferences.

With addition to the menu and hosting family members and their offspring’s, there is the time and space to house these people after the dining is over. There is Uncle Jack, who by the time the Macy’s parade has started, is already hitting the bourbon on the sofa. There are the rug rats running amok around the table knocking things down and causing a furry until they fascinate on their electronic devices. The kitchen is full of chefs and one wonders should be have a health inspector to check these dishes before devouring them? The tradition of having the ladies crowd the cooking while the gentlemen lounge out of the way involved in sports banter and alcohol until called to the table.

I don’t attend family gatherings for festive food and loud conversations or venture to a dining establishment where some smuck is working in the kitchen when he wants to be home with family but is preparing the dining experience on this special day under a screen showing the football game and expected a large time for the cold meal of prepared food under a heat lamp. 

 

On this day, my mind wanders to the formal dinners. Long tables with place settings and assigned seating at an RSVP. These dinners had proper attire and time schedules for seating and delivery of the meal by servers in white gloves with constant attendance to refilling drinks and removing plates. No one would move until the head of the table announced the meal, perhaps blessed the food, and indicated we were to begin dining. We all paused to use the correct utensil for the appetizer while trying to make polite conversation with the people close enough to hear your voice. These dinners were not to feed the guest, but to mingle strangers. Most portions were small and the plate removed as your purpose was to converse rather than dine. When the coffee arrived, the meal was over and everyone moved onto the next course.

The gentlemen would move to the library for cigars and brandy while the ladies would move to the study for some cognac and chatting while the attendance cleared the table, guided the children into a separate room and prepared the space for entertainment.

The wealthy would provide live music to get the men/women back together for conversion or perhaps a physical activity as a dance.

At the end of the evening, with a cordial passing knowing the response must be matched or succeeded by another event. Other endings may provide financial connection or possible romantic conclusion.

Today, I give thanks for waking up. That is always a plus. I give thanks for not being in pain. I give thanks for getting enough grub and libations to get through the day without having to ride in the rain. I give thanks for not having to follow football and give thanks for stretch pants. I give thanks that the politics are over and…. what? who won? Never mind.