Things I Love Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours! Hank & Dolly & I are curled up on the couch, with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on television (on mute) & Ray Charles (playing loudly!), while Mike works his genius in the kitchen. Lydia’s coming over later to partake in our feast, & it will be lovely.

This year I am thankful for…

Happy Thanksgiving!

Being married to a wonderful man…(Definitely a highlight of my year!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hank & Dolly, for whom unconditional love is just an everyday occurrence…

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Old friends I can laugh with…(& who will go on holiday with me!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

New friends who delight me…(& inspire me in endless ways!)

This has been an incredible year for me, with plenty of magical events. I have so much to be thankful for, & I think you probably do, too!

Unfortunately, for all the positives around Thanksgiving, this is a day with a long, sad history. Even today, American schools don’t teach their students about what really went on, but thankfully, we’re capable of educating ourselves. There are truthful, accurate summaries here, here & here.

The quote below really sums up how I feel about Thanksgiving…

“Yes, we should spend time with our families and loved ones, and yes, we should be grateful and thankful for all that we have, but not at the expense of ignoring an entire race of people, their culture, and their history. The fact that history textbooks and schools try to glorify the Pilgrims while omitting significant facts about the Natives represents that there is a lot to improve in the United States. Let us not become blinded by super-patriotism or blowout sales of “Black Friday.” Let us give some thought to the Native people, learn from their struggles, and embolden ourselves to stand up against racism and genocide in all forms.” (Source)

Additionally, this morning Mike & I watched the following TEDTalk by Aaron Huey, about his interactions with the Lakota people. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Today, while we celebrate the many blessings in our lives, let’s be mindful, too, of the history of this country, & those who came before.