Thanks to petzipellepingo for the link: a rare open post

[pondhopper]

I'm all about flowing with the times but I still long for some of the old-fashioned stuff. Thanksgiving here doesn't exist but as part of honouring my heritage I do recreate a traditional meal with the little bit of family I have where I live. This year our Thanksgiving will be on Nov. 19

Comments

[suzan_s]

We don't celebrate with the same intent in which the holiday was created here in the USA, but we do celebrate the holiday with the intent of being grateful for all that we have....to count our blessings...and share a meal with one another.

[pondhopper]

I think that intent is just as good as the original. Being thankful has many personal meanings.
:)

[rodluvan]

Thanksgiving does not exist in Sweden and Holland neither. And that's why I never missed it.

But the frist Advent is a big day. Then people light the Adventstake and you can go to a church and be at an advent service and the3re are many concerts with song and music in the churches of other buildings.

And we have "Shop window Sunday"

[pondhopper]

It only exists in the US and Canada. I keep the tradition of my youth alive here because it's part of my own history, a part I love.

But I have also adopted the customs of this country so now I have a good mixture and more beautiful things to celebrate along with my own from the US.

[trekchic]

Life is about change, holidays are a part of that change. Do I miss the earlier Thanksgivings? I miss the people who are no longer with me, I miss the way the world seemed such a simple, safer place as a child.

Based on what I've read on lj and talking to friends, so many people are dealing with difficult familial relationships and the holidays only exacerbate that. They stay away for their sanity not because they're too busy.

The Norman Rockwell depiction of Thanksgiving may be lovely but, for so many, it's far from the reality.

[pondhopper]

Well, of course there's that perspective but I find that too negative for myself. I am sorry for those who have that kind of drama in their lives but my point was that I left the US more or less permanently when I was 21 and some of my best memories are the Thanksgivings and Christmases of my youth. We had warm family gatherings and I try to recreate that even though it's on a much reduced scale. And I miss both those who are no longer here and the traditions. Maybe I had a bit of the Norman Rockwell and I was lucky, I suppose. I live far away from my heritage and that creates a special kind of longing even though I have also embraced the traditions of my adopted country.

And I am a very sentimental person.

[trekchic]

I realize that I wasn't clear in my comment that I was responding to the article you linked and not to your post. I felt the author was unfair to blame his friends and family for being too busy when it sounded to me like things simply changed and they couldn't accommodate his version of what Thanksgiving should be.
Yes, I have been feeling a bit negative this holiday, I'm working on that:). Part of it is my Mom's still unsettled situation and part of it is seeing friends struggling with family issues and illness.

I meant no disrespect to your feelings or traditions and I apologize if my comment came off that way.

[pondhopper]

The one bad thing about this kind of exchange is that you can't sit and talk with the person and ask for clarification etc

[iluvdaphne]

Hi we celebrate it with gusto. But this year with John gone to Tampa it will be sad. He said he will not be back till the Spring. His bosses said they could fly him home but he does not want to take advantage of his workplace and miss half days on Wednesday and Monday if all the other people have to work.

Please add me back. :>)

[pondhopper]

A few months ago I did a reduction of my friend's list but only of those who never posted or gave signs of life by commenting on my own posts. I'll gladly add you back as you were one of the ones I debated about but will you be around more? I just don't do Facebook and it's not anything like LJ where my life is recorded, basically. For me LJ is about interaction and sharing.

It's nice to see you around again...
:)
Why is John in Tampa?

Never mind. I just went and read your post from September and saw the news.
I'm sorry about Daphne.
:(

[mummm]

I am hoping that the kids can at least grab a meal with us, but the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday and I think Sean is in charge of that craziness this year. Poor guy. I guess we fit the story. The rest of the family is *gone*.

[pondhopper]

Things do change. People pass away, move away and marry into other families and that's normal. I guess the article hit me hard because I moved away from my birthplace when I was 21 and have struggled to have at least a little of my own heritage stay alive in my little family here. At least Vicki and Adolfo come to dinner and love a traditional meal and so does Manolo...I have such good memories of Thanksgiving as a child and that makes me even more nostalgic. You know how sentimental I am.

I do hope that at least the four of you can have Thanksgiving together.
((hugs))

[mummm]

Me too... and to be able to cook a whole Turkey! (small) We love the turkey sandwiches made from leftovers a lot!

[pondhopper]

We love leftover turkey sandwiches. I have a small hen turkey for us, too.
:)