Ah Facebook! Giving the world an opportunity to be even more narcissistic than we already are! Giving each of us the idea that others are not only interested in our current location but also in what we're eating and whether or not we like Powdermilk Buscuits (goodness they're delicious). Indeed, I have 437 "friends." I cannot imagine that most are even remotely interested in my random thoughts. I actually think 430 of them probably hide me, which is okay since I don't remember who most of you are. So, even knowing that most of my "friends" are themselves engaged in navel gazing and could care less about my thoughts on anything, I present anyway my thoughts on the holiday.
Thanksgiving is almost upon us. As I've stated since FB allowed people not in the Ivys to join; Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Let me strengthen that; Thanksgiving is the only Holiday I enjoy. I am not a religious person nor am I a celebratory type and so most holidays, with their emphasis on religion or celebration, or both, I find contrived, pressured, insincere and boring. This includes my birthday which, at least for the last number of years as I increase in decrepitude, is not nearly as much fun as once it was. Birthdays are great for children, especially the 10th, 13th, 16th, and 21st. After the 21st, there are really no seminal, celebratory, birthdays. Birthdays after 21 are the Oh My GOD birthdays as in "OMG I'm 30! OMG I'm 40! OMG I'm 70!" I'll amend this; my daughter's birthdays are always times for good cheer especially as she has avoided arrest, pregnancy, and drug addiction, has graduated college and appears quite respectable. (Not that I take too much credit for that but Iam a proud papa.)
So Thanksgiving it is. No presents. No Religion. No pressure. Just eat and drink and take a long weekend to relax, avoid the stores (unless you're a lunatic), watch a movie, read a book, cuddle up with a loved one (either two legs or four). Oh, and reflect I suppose on what it is you're thankful for.
I am Thankful to be alive. I truly am. Coming from a family of high early mortality and being myself a survivor of serious diseases, that's always a biggy. There are people I cared very much about who died this year. While I mourn their loss, I am thankful I am not one of them.
I am most thankful for Carolyn, my wife of many years and Sommer, my daughter of less years. I could not be the man I am today without them. Make of that what you will. Je vous adore tous deux.
I am thankful for my brothers; both biological and adopeted over the years, as well as the rest of my family, both those I was born with and those I've accumulated (or who have accumulated me).
I am thankful for my friends and also my "friends." Even those who have me hidden since shortly after friending me. I am thankful for my profession and the really good folks with whom I work; their humor and intelligence sustains me on a daily basis.For those of you currently in school to achieve a professional degree, it's worth it! Keep on pushing!
I am thankful for the theater and my role(s) in it. For the many people, mostly younger, who amaze me with their talent and energy and with whom I can occasionally have a drink and share a joke (when I can stay awake). (Or for the really younger ones, with whom I can play UNO or....go to Uno's)
In these times of financial ruin, environmental degradation, political venality, unemployment, foreclosure and massive betrayals by so many, ; it is comforting to note that, compared to many people in the world...life is pretty good all around for many in the US in 2011. At least for me and many of the people I know. I hope it's good for you as well. And I truly hope that, if it's not good for you this year, that next year is a marked improvement.
Love you madly,
The Old Curmudgeon
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