True meaning of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude, especially to God. In North America, it’s an annual national holiday marked by religious observances and a traditional meal that commonly includes turkey. We commemorate the festival held by the Pilgrims in 1621 every fourth Tuesday in November. It’s a special time to gather with family and friends, share a traditional meal, exchange some laughs and stories, and express gratitude for the good things in life. Thanksgiving 2023 is now history; I hope all of you had a wonderful gathering with the people close to you.

According to information from USA Today, This year’s holiday set a record number for air travel. The cost of a traditional family sit-down meal was less than last year. Many families are now dodging many hours of hot cooking in the kitchen or days of cleaning in advance or spending hours washing dishes afterward–nearly 50 percent of Americans now order their meal in or go to a restaurant open on the holiday.

Very interesting detail: The Friday after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for plumbers. The culprits are clogged sinks and garbage disposals.

Thanksgiving is also a signal for my best friend Lisa and me to do some Christmas shopping: Black Friday has arrived. A few years ago, I followed the Black Friday stereotype. I waited in line beginning at 5:30 a.m., rushed through the open doors at 6 a.m., and grabbed the hunting video game the grandchildren had requested for Christmas.

No more early shopping for this guy! I’ve grown older and wiser.

Black Friday is now open to shoppers before and after the traditional time frame. Go figure, “black Wednesday,” “black Saturday” and many days thereafter–until the merchandise is gone, I’m guessing.

Our daughter-in-law Shannon sends us a summary of our four grandchildren’s wish lists. Shannon is always thrifty and finds the best deals online. If the item isn’t on sale, who cares? It’s Christmas and they are our beloved grandchildren. Many packages have already been delivered to our door, only one left to arrive. Almost all our Christmas shopping is now done by Lisa online. It still feels a bit wrong: This old-fashioned guy still likes to see the product, hold it, feel it, and smell it.

I enjoy going out for coffee in the early morning at McDonald’s. The place is full of senior citizens who gather for friendship and good old start-of-day conversation. I’ve met many new folks and also enjoy talking with people I’ve known for years. I had a couple of great experiences sitting down and visiting with a group of senior ladies who get together every Tuesday for coffee. They call themselves “McBuddies.” Phoebe Praxl, Lois Johnson, Marla Rohl, Alice Waligoski and Colleen Frederich are all long-time Waseca residents. Diane Mann and Joyce Tramp lived in Waseca for many years, but now reside in Mankato to be nearer to family. I’m told that, when the two of them drive to Waseca to be with the Tuesday-morning group, Joyce insists on being the driver. She says she doesn’t trust Diane to drive them safely down Highway 14 for their meeting–reportedly her driving skills have gone by the wayside…

The first time I sat down with the group–can’t remember whether they asked me to join them–I spent three hours listening to their stories and conversation.

Great entertainment–they could produce their own television reality show with all the laughs they inspire. It was a real hoot. One of the ladies informed me she had to have someone show her how to open the trunk of her car. Another stopped for gas, couldn’t find the gas cap, and had to have someone show her how to fuel up her car. I learned that Bock’s still has someone come out and pump your gas–no self service for that lady. One member had pictures on her phone of her face after she’d taken a fall–a real digger.

The group talked about being at the mercy of constant rising costs from their cable providers. They also addressed the fact that, if you don’t have a smart phone, you don’t have the applications to order discounts and deals–a clear case of discrimination against seniors. If you have any questions about your property tax increase for 2024, just ask the McBuddies.

I wish the ladies happiness, friendship, laughter, continued camaraderie and good health for many more years to come.

We have an author in the Zika family. My daughter-in-law Shannon wrote her first children’s book entitled “There’s Magic in the Woods.” It tells the story of a squirrel as he journeys through the forest. Shannon wrote the story, took photographs and published the book. It might be a great Christmas gift for your young grandbabies. The book is available on Amazon: search for “There’s Magic in the Woods” by Shannon Zika. I think the book is just plain wonderful, and I’m sure you’ll agree.