To Thanksgiving
This holiday is often overlooked
One feels, because it doesn’t generate
The flow of cash, the airlines overbooked,
Hysteria at fear of being late.
A humble, homey, family-style affair,
No supernatural glamour European
Kicks Concupiscence awake to dare
Sobriety to drink and make a scene.
Giving thanks for what one has is not
In fashion in this Age of Gimmemore.
Virtue, quaintly comical, has got
Inhibited. It fears to be a bore.
Nothing satisfies, however wild, like
Giving thanks for home in manner childlike.
~ FreeThinke, The Sandpiper, Autumn, 1996
For once I’ll keep it simple. This turkey’s festive plumage says it all.
HAPPY
THANKSGIVING!!!
~ FreeThinke
REJOICE!
Oh, how I miss Thanksgiving at Grandma's. The whole family, big and loud and boisterous, piles of us, all different ages and generations, the kids running around all over the place, the annual "Punch Bowl" family football game (with an actual punch-bowl shaped trophy!), football, politics, practical jokes, parades... the leaves and nuts on the ground, the air... Oh, I miss those days, FreeThinke.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving, ol' man. Remember the good days.
JMJ
We must have come from the same family, Jersey!
DeleteAll I have left of the family are memories now, Jersey, but Man they are GOOD memories, and I am so grateful to have them.
We lived so well it's hard to believe looking back.
Not rich. Not "important," but we were happy, and we loved each other.
That's really all that matters.
We ate well too! BOY did we ever!
Are you old enough to remember Norman Rockwell? He captured the spirit of the era in which I so lucky to have been raised.
As long as we remember, it's all still with us.
Have a really GOOD ONE, Jersey!
Rockwell was my Uncle Bill's favorite. Yeah, I sure do. My wife and I love Rockwell. Really! You have GOOD ONE, too, FT!
DeleteJMJ
{{{{{{{{{{{{{ HUGS }}}}}}}}}}}}}
DeleteMy grandmother was the worst cook I've ever known, so she never hosted our annual Thanksgiving feast.
ReplyDeleteBut Mom? A genius in the kitchen! Every year until she passed in 1987, Mom hosted the extended family and put on a spread like no other: her own canned goods (vegetables, relishes, pickles, jellies) and, most often, a roasted FRESH turkey with all the trimmings -- although I recall one year that we had pheasant -- and ham, too. We always had pumpkin pie, too. Afterwards, we gathered around the piano to sing Christmas carols.
I'm very grateful that you felt well enough to take time to visit us here, AOW.
DeleteAs we get older, our memories become more and more important to us. We should all be grateful if we were fortunate enough to be raised in a lung family who knew how t express joy and gratitude by sharing themselves generously with each other.
In childhood happiness seems to depend most on RECEIVING. As we mature it becomes more and more a product of our need always to GIVE and help fulfill the needs of others.
As one of my Sunday School teachers taught us by rote way back when we were itty-butties:
"It is more blessed t give than to receive."
I am especially thankful that I am in a position to be able to help others in my old age. It pays great dividends on many levels.
Good comment.
DeleteThank you. We try. ;-)
DeleteThanksgiving starts with thanks for mere survival,
ReplyDeleteJust to have made it through another year
With everyone still breathing. But we share
So much beyond the outer roads we travel;
Our interweavings on a deeper level,
The modes of life that souls alone can share,
he unguessed blessings of our being here,
The warp and weft that no one can unravel.
So I give thanks for our deep coinherence
Inwoven in the web of Gods own grace,
Pulling us through the grave and gate of death.
I thank Him for the truth behind appearance,
I thank Him for his light in every face,
I thank Him for you all, with every breath!
~ Malcolm Quite
I hear grumbling about Mr. Trump's "waffling" on prosecuting the Clintons, and his decision to entertain Mitt Romney as a potential Secretary of State. I admit I haven't been crazy about these things, myself, but we should remind ourselves that Mr. Trump is a great executive. That means he knows how to DELEGATE responsibility to his assistants.
ReplyDeleteFor good or for ill IMAGE is more important than SUBSTANCE in the bizarre world of political intrigue. A "Simon Pure" personality cannot survive amid the incessant Machiavellian maneuverings, and institutionalized hypocrisy.
As Truman said, [at least I think it was Truman!] "If you want to have a friend in Washington, get yourself DOG." And I don't think he meant to be funny.
At any rate, Mr. Trump may seem rough around the edges, but he's a VERY smart, and much more sophisticated than anyone in the enemedia has given him credit for –– so far.
I do believe he has the best interests of our country at heart.
Wreaking vengeance on the Clintons –– much as we might love to see it –– is probably NOT in the best interests of promoting a pro-Business, pro-Growth, pro-Freedom, pro-Independence, agenda, and it would not serve well Mr. Trump's pledge to try to life the :inner cities" out of the Blight, Lawlessness, Violence, Decay, Hopelessness and Despondency in which they've been languishing ever since LBJ imposed "The Great Society" on the American Negro –– and the American taxpayers.
Mr. Trump may be the Ultimate Pragmatist. For this I applaud him. I believe that in time both God to whom Vengeance alone belongs –– and the Trump Justice Department –– will see that the Clintons receive their just desserts.
Meanwhile, there are much bigger, tastier and more nourishing fish to fry.
Well by jove and geewillikers, a Robust and Happy Turkey Day to you FreeThinke.
ReplyDelete_______ On Giving Thanks _______
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time, we knew that life
Never guarantees us anything,
Given that, why not just plunge a knife
Into your heart? No form of nannying
Vitiates vicissitude, and yet
Imagination hopes to set aside
Natural Law which says w’re all in debt.
God, the Source of Life, can just provide
The chance to be whatever we can be.
Happiness is found along the way ––
Achieving what we can with Charity.
No panacea can this truth gainsay.
Kings and Vassals –– equal in God’s sight ––
Should each give thanks as they fight the good fight.
~ FreeThinke
FT, Have a great Thanksgiving and more so to have much to be thankful for. We all do if we think hard enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kid. I hope you've had a great day too. I make a point of finding something to be glad about, even in the worst of times. I've gotten a point, though, where I can't stand the cynics, the naysayers, the spoilsports and the party poopers anymore. Not enough time left to bother with them.
DeleteI'm very happy abut the election, and will reserve judgement for at least six months on what may or may not happen.
This just in... Jill Stein has requested a Recount She claimes that she actually received 105 votes, and not only the 101 votes that they are giving her credit for. if anyone here is interested.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a PLOY the Democrats are using to keep the nation's "pot" boiling.
DeleteDemocrats seem to thrive on fomenting Discontent, Fear, Loathing, Envy, Spite, Malice –– and a most peculiar inability EVER to feel grateful, satisfied or contended with ANYTHING, –– even when things seem to be going their way.
But then, unfortunately there seems to be a growing number who identify themselves as "Conservatives" who, apparently, have caught the same disease.
NEGATIVISM abounds, and it is KILLING us.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI've been locked out of the REPLY function again. Make it hard to run the blog as I would wish.
ReplyDelete________________________ A REMINDER ________________________
We do NOT accept insults, lies or idiotic accusations from the LEFT.
We do to like or encourage negative remarks ABOUT the Left from the RIGHT.
Therefore, if yu can't say something CHEERFUL, POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING, HOPEFUL or genuinely INSTRUCTIVE or INFORMATIVE, please DON'T SAY ANYTHING at ALL.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteEliminate the State of California from the count, and Trump won the election by millions...
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNow that the American people have spoken that they want Donald Trump as President, many are wondering what will happen with all the FBI investigations involving Hillary Clinton. Beyond her emails, there investigations on-going into her family’s pay-to-play scheme with foreign leaders through the Clinton Foundation. There have been rumors that President Obama may pardon Hillary in an attempt to help her avoid prosecution at the hands of the Trump administration.
ReplyDeleteHell no. There a to many people sitting in jail right now for a fraction of what she has done. A pardon would be a slap in the face to these people, and to the United States Justice System . A pardon would also be a disgrace to justice, it sends a signal to the people that there is one justice for the elitists and a different justice for the rest. So then what is equal justice under the law? So LOCK HER UP just like anyone else who has done the crimes that she has!
A pardon should ONLY be used to effect justice– NEVER to ESCAPE it!!!
NOBODY SHOULD BE ABOVE THE LAW, but Hillary’s been above it for more than 25 years, using her power and connections to evade justice and commit crimes against the American People which would carry a death-penalty if they were ENFORCED– thus adding evasion, obstruction and aggravation to the list!
Now she should be prosecuted, to make an example of her, and show others that they can’t just violate the law with impunity by elite privilege, but that there will be a day of reckoning for even the most favored and privileged, letting them know that they can’t BUY their way out of facing justice with ill-gotten money and sheep-followers!
So Lock Her Up and lets hope that we never see her again!
Crocked Hitlery and her ILK are now claiming that she won the election! WHAT? She won the fringe Coasts and NOTHING in between, and America isn't going to let those freaks, illegals, sore losing crybabies and perverts who are packed into LA and NYC chose the President for us. That's why we have the Electoral College . So if you lefties don't like it, leave with the rest of that bunch of Idiots from “The View” etc.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteStill locked out of the REPLY function. Too bad! Deletion then is the only defense then against RUDE, SNIDE, IRRELEVANT, DISRESPECTFUL, and otherwise UNWELCOME remarks.
ReplyDeleteEither you learn to RESPECT and OBEY our Rules and Guidelines, or you WILL be JETTISONED –– i.e. KICKED OUT, TRASHED, ELIMINATED, REJECTED or DELETED.
People who don't read the post, don't respect the blog proprietor, don't obey the rules, don't show any evidence of having read remarks accepted by OTHER commenters are NOT WELCOME here.
Thersites comment on LOONY TUNES CRAZIFORNIA's effect on the Popular Vote is more than plausible, HOWEVER, it doesn't even begin to take into account the hundreds of thousands –– possibly millions –– of "votes" cast by ILLEGAL ALIENS and CEMETERY RESIDENTS.
ReplyDeleteThe system has been thoroughly corrupted by D'RAT OPERATIVES ready, willing and able to commit CRIMES in order to "win" elections. Of this I have no doubt whatsoever.
How we could ever hope to PROVE this is another matter.
As Stalin said, "It doesn't matter who votes.All that matters is who COUNTS the votes."
In addition there is always the Moron Vote –– ill-informed people legally eligible to cast a ballet with IQ's below room temperature.
This group is easily manipulated by charlatans in the D'Rat Party who simply EXPLOIT the morons, and never give them anything in return for their loyalty.
Since they ARE, indeed, morons, they are too STUPID ever to notice how they are being rolled.
Like lynching, wife beating and cruelty to animals these deceptive, exploitative practices should be STOPPED.
But HOW? "The Law" is in the side of the EXPLOITERS.
Dickens was right.
The Law IS a' ASS.
Jill Stein (Hillary Clinton’s) recount is akin to Michael Brown’s father standing in front of an angry mob of rioters after our judicial system found Officer Wilson innocent of murder, begging them to burn the city of Ferguson to the ground. Instead of finding ways to help heal and bring our nation together after a extremely contentious election, the Democrats have managed to find a way to keep our nation on edge. Democrats have made it clear by their bad post-election behavior, that they are unwilling to accept the results of the election and move on. Instead of regrouping and figuring out what they need to do to win back the voters they’ve lost, they’re going to drag and already divided America through a recount based on nothing more than hope.
ReplyDeleteThis Recount Nonsense is just a PLOY the Democrats are using to keep the nation's "pot" boiling.
DeleteDemocrats seem to thrive on fomenting Discontent, Fear, Loathing, Envy, Spite, Malice –– and a most peculiar inability EVER to feel grateful, satisfied or contended with ANYTHING, –– even when things seem to be going their way.
But then, unfortunately there seems to be a growing number who identify themselves as "Conservatives" who, apparently, have caught the same disease.
NEGATIVISM abounds, and it is KILLING us.
Let’s set the record straight. Fidel Castro was a vile and evil dictator that killed his own citizen and caused many to flee (and some to perish in the attempt).
ReplyDeleteEvery ass clown American politician who expressed condolences should be tarred and feathered, and forever barred from ever holding elected office.
I hope they bury him “Face up”,so I can go over there as a tourist and PISS ON HIS GRAVE
I don't disagree, but I sense your drift towards vituperative negativism asserting itself, and very frankly I think harping on our pet hates like that does more harm to "US" than it does to those we despise.
DeleteHave you found NOTHING to be THANKFUL about this Thanksgiving Season? Have you lost the ability to REJOICE and be GLAD?
If so, you have opened yourself –– and those close to you –– to a life of utter misery.
We have to WORK at being glad and grateful. We have to WORK at counting our BLESSINGS. I know from long experience that it is better for our health and well being to CULTIVATE OPTIMISM and GRATITUDE.
Not easy in our faultfinding culture that revels in perversity, depravity and cynical rejection of even the HOPE of attaining happiness and fulfillment.
"Fight the GOOD Fight wth all of thy might." DON'T aid the Devil by harping on grief, error and misfortune.
Eliminate the State of California from the count, and Trump won the election by millions...
ReplyDeletegclub
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