Not Just Another Day...

Okay... I've been worse than usual about posting (or rather NOT POSTING) to the blog for the last two weeks.

It's been a busy two weeks... and I've been sick.

But one thing has been running around in my brain ever since a couple of days after Thanksgiving.

That weekend was pretty busy, what with a Turkey to BBQ and a parade to watch, yams, beans, brussel sprouts, green beans, and dressing all to make in a juggling balance while imbibing in all of the lovely libations of the season... It's a tough job, but as they say...

So after the big debauchery it was recuperation day (did I mention that I've been sick?), music to hear at the local pub on Friday and Saturday night and Santa to wait for at the local dock, as he came on up the Petaluma River to meet and greet (making like he was running for election) all his adoring fans.

Somewhere along the way, I think it was outside Finbars on Friday, I overheard someone say that Thanksgiving has "turned out to be just another day." Well... I know it's all very popular to be oh so reserved and cynical about the holidays (someone else I know was recently complaining about all the "false cheer") but to me it's just the opposite, and it's extremely important to remember... especially when things are not all sweetness and light... that the reason we celebrate holidays (whether they be Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or Mardi Gras) is in order to break ourselves out of the ordinary.. to move us to a new place, to show us - by giving us a reason to relax, revel, and recuperate - that we are not simply here on this planet to take up space and spread our greed.

We are here to see each other for what we are, celebrate the joy of who we are, and know each other for the miracles we hope we can be.

For me Thanksgiving (my FAVORITE of holidays) cannot and will not EVER just be "another day."

Thanksgiving (and the whole end of year holiday season of celebration that it ushers in) is a day for remembering that we live as spirit inside these meat sacks and our lives are better for the times we stop and smell the food, kiss our loved ones, and have a drink of wine.