Sunday, November 18, 2012

Thanksgiving traditions

In our home we sorta stray from the traditional Thanksgiving meal.  While I have cooked a turkey with the traditional side dishes, more often than not I have made things that are not commonly associated with Thanksgiving.  For our Thanksgiving meals we have made Chicken Picatta, Peppery Flank Steak, Chicken Curry, Rack of Lamb, etc.  You get the idea. 


This year, I will be making a beef tenderloin roast from a recipe that Deirdre found a few weeks ago.  It will just be the two of us for dinner, as we are going to sneak away for a few days to our cottage in Oscoda.  

Thanksgiving is a very American holiday.  It has resisted any real commercialization of the event because we are not celebrating a religious holiday or event.  Rather we are celebrating the good fortunes that have been bestowed upon us as a nation and a people. In no particular order, here are some of the things I will be thankful for this coming Thanksgiving Day:

  1. I have a job I love with a great company.
  2. Because of Item 1, I do not worry about tonight's dinner or if I am going to pay the next bill that arrives in my mailbox.
  3. I am thankful for the people with whom I work.  They are a great group of engineers whose strengths cover my weaknesses.
  4. Because of Item 3, we laugh a lot at work.  I am thankful for that.
  5. I am in excellent health.  I have no chronic or acute health issues.
  6. I am thankful for the U.S. Constitution, and for its first 10 amendments.  I am especially thankful for Amendments 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10.
  7. I am thankful for my career in the Navy.  I served for 22 years, went to war a couple of times, but I did not experience a physical or mental scratch during my career.
  8. I am married to a wonderful person who appreciates me for who I am.  We are a great team.
  9. I am owned by a German Shepherd Dog who we rescued five years ago this week.  He was scared and skittish when we brought him home.  Now, he is an obedient, lovable, goofy dog who is essentially a 100lb Yorkie.
  10. I am thankful, each November, for Beaujolais Nouveau.
  11. I am thankful for my neighbors.  I could not have asked for better people to be my neighbors.
  12. I am thankful for single malt scotch.
  13. I am thankful for technology.  I am able to keep in touch with friends who literally live on the other side of the planet.
This is what I am thankful for today.  What are you thankful for today?