Can You Celebrate Thanksgiving Without Turkey

Can You celebrate Thanksgiving without turkey and pumpkin pie? I think it is possible but you decide. I recently saw a cute yard sign. It was a plywood cutout of a large fan tail turkey carrying a placard that read "Eat More Ham!" We have all seen the TV commercials with the turkey calling the Butterball hot line just to confuse the telemarketer. The list of anti-turkey advertisements goes on and on.

I have heard stories of folks celebrating along the 42nd parralell in the 1950s that ate Spam for Thanksgiving and were grateful for a hot meal. I've heard stories of folks celebrating in the Mekong Delta in the 1960s that ate cold Spam and celebrated a day without rain. I spoke with a young fella that last year spent Thanksgiving eating ham and sweet potatoes and was grateful to be in an Air Conditioned Mess Hall. Things get a bit Hot on the sandpile (aka Iraq)

We all know the reason for celebrating this holiday is to give thanks. We all know the American people have turned this holiday into a National Eating Marathon. I remember when my children were small we tried to celebrate all holidays with both sides of the family including my Grandma's. That meant three major meals in two days. It also meant we were blessed with leftovers from three major meals. I love turkey and leftovers but this was carrying it a bit far.

I think one of my most memorable Thanksgivings was when all three of my children had the German Measles. Too sick for any of the traditional meal but needed something to eat. I fixed a chicken noodle soup. It was just the five of us in our own home. The Atitude of Gratitude around that table on that day was an emotional high that isn't experienced often enough. The intriguing part is the turkey was still in the freezer, the pie fixing were still in the pantry. We just had us, no one to impress or fight, no conflict or pretense. Perhaps my children were too young to remember this day but it is held close to my heart. I bring this memory forward every November as I pursue that emotional high once more.

Yes I believe you can have Thanksgiving without Turkey and Pumpkin Pie. Yes I believe the pursuit of gratitude is a wholesome endeavor. Yes I think this year we will have Turkey and Pumpkin pie, Mincemeat pie too, not because I have to but because I like it. Y'all have a Happy Thanksgiving. Make a memory and share when you have time. Remember all blessings that are shared multiply and all challenges that are shared are halved. Mizpah ;-}}>