Well, going to be alone for Thanksgiving again this year...

[Archae]

I really don't mind, since Thanksgiving isn't an important holiday any longer.

I am looking forward to a week from tomorrow, when I turn... SIXTY!
Yes, I'm going to be sixty years old on December 2nd.

And Christmas, I love the music and lights.

[cilla4progress]

1. Why isn't Thanksgiving

important any longer?

Just hubby and me and the animals this year. Looking forward to only cooking for two, no schedule. Going to be quite cold!

[Grasswire2]

2. well if you didn't live in WISCONSIN, we would share our turkey

About two thousand miles, I think.

[Joinfortmill]

3. been there

I've been alone for a few holidays in my life, including Thanksgiving. I cooked myself a small turkey breast with all the trimmings and watched a favorite flick. Happy Birthday and Happy Thanksgiving.

[Phentex]

21. This is what I would do!

[oldtime dfl_er]

4. I don't care for Thanksgiving

so I use it as a pamper day. Sleep in, long bath, online shopping, watching guilty pleasure movies, and eating whatever I want. Hubby works (he's a Brit so it's not an important holiday to him) so I have the day to myself. So enjoy!!

[lunatica]

5. I stopped doing all the holidays in 1995

It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Chinese restaurants are a popular place to go on Thanksgiving. You’d be surprised how many people don’t do holidays.

[Lunabell]

6. I hope you aren't lonely.

If you're able, maybe you could volunteer at a shelter or something. Or if you like being alone, watch the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade. That always makes me happy.

I have to work, but we're having our turkey dinner on Tues. If you're in N. Florida, you are invited. But be warned, I have 4 very rambunctious dogs, lol.

Oh, and early happy birthday!

[Wounded Bear]

7. I think I've been alone more often than with family in my life...

at Thanksgiving. That does, of course, include 7 years in the Marines when I was out of state, then the last 10 years where I have been living alone and family doesn't always have space for me.

[BigmanPigman]

8. I have chosen to skip Thanksgiving this year

since my dad died suddenly and I am still very depressed. Having to look at his empty chair would make me cry the whole time, just like I am starting to do right now just thinking about it. I would rather spend the day with my little warm, soft doggie who is hanging in there for me (she is 16 1/2 and it may be our last one together).

Maybe I will buy some weed and make "space cakes" like I had on Thanksgiving in Amsterdam in 1983. That could be fun. I have been eating stuffing for over a week and am finally starting to tire of it.

Happy 60th!

[rusty quoin]

11. Yeah how can I buy legal. In VA

[BigmanPigman]

13. Do you have a friend who could mail some to you from

a legal state? If you send oil in the mail it probably would get through without alerting the authorities.

[rusty quoin]

9. I felt bad working them since the 80s. It was a lonely thing I know.

We have lost the holiday thing in my years. Now it is just working.

[DFW]

10. An old friend of my dad's first published this column in 1952, the year I was born

by Art Buchwald, The Washington Post

This confidential column was leaked to me by a high government official in the Plymouth colony on the condition that I not reveal his name.

One of our most important holidays is Thanksgiving Day, known in France as le Jour de Merci Donnant.

Le Jour de Merci Donnant was first started by a group of Pilgrims (Pèlerins) who fled from l'Angleterre before the McCarran Act to found a colony in the New World (le Nouveau Monde) where they could shoot Indians (les Peaux-Rouges) and eat turkey (dinde) to their hearts' content.

They landed at a place called Plymouth (now a famous voiture Américaine) in a wooden sailing ship called the Mayflower (or Fleur de Mai ) in 1620. But while the Pèlerins were killing the dindes, the Peaux-Rouges were killing the Pèlerins, and there were several hard winters ahead for both of them. The only way the Peaux-Rouges helped the Pelerins was when they taught them to grow corn (mais). The reason they did this was because they liked corn with their Pèlerins.

In 1623, after another harsh year, the Pèlerins' crops were so good that they decided to have a celebration and give thanks because more mais was raised by the Pèlerins than Pèlerins were killed by Peaux-Rouges.

Every year on the Jour de Merci Donnant, parents tell their children an amusing story about the first celebration.

It concerns a brave capitaine named Miles Standish (known in France as Kilometres Deboutish) and a young, shy lieutenant named Jean Alden. Both of them were in love with a flower of Plymouth called Priscilla Mullens (no translation). The vieux capitaine said to the jeune lieutenant :

"Go to the damsel Priscilla ( allez très vite chez Priscilla), the loveliest maiden of Plymouth ( la plus jolie demoiselle de Plymouth). Say that a blunt old captain, a man not of words but of action ( un vieux Fanfan la Tulipe ), offers his hand and his heart, the hand and heart of a soldier. Not in these words, you know, but this, in short, is my meaning.

"I am a maker of war ( je suis un fabricant de la guerre ) and not a maker of phrases. You, bred as a scholar ( vous, qui êtes pain comme un étudiant ), can say it in elegant language, such as you read in your books of the pleadings and wooings of lovers, such as you think best adapted to win the heart of the maiden."

Although Jean was fit to be tied ( convenable très emballé ), friendship prevailed over love and he went to his duty. But instead of using elegant language, he blurted out his mission. Priscilla was muted with amazement and sorrow ( rendue muette par l'étonnement et la tristesse ).

At length she exclaimed, interrupting the ominous silence: "If the great captain of Plymouth is so very eager to wed me, why does he not come himself and take the trouble to woo me?" ( Où est-il, le vieux Kilometres? Pourquoi ne vient-il pas auprès de moi pour tenter sa chance ?)

Jean said that Kilometres Deboutish was very busy and didn't have time for those things. He staggered on, telling what a wonderful husband Kilometres would make. Finally Priscilla arched her eyebrows and said in a tremulous voice, "Why don't you speak for yourself, Jean?" ( Chacun a son goût. )

And so, on the fourth Thursday in November, American families sit down at a large table brimming with tasty dishes and, for the only time during the year, eat better than the French do.

No one can deny that le Jour de Merci Donnant is a grande fête and no matter how well fed American families are, they never forget to give thanks to Kilometres Deboutish, who made this great day possible.

[DFW]

12. By the way, if anyone is in the Nordrhein-Westfalen area on Friday.....

I still work for a living, and am usually in a different country every day, so for me, Thursday is just another day here in Europe. Ergo, we do our Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. My wife, who grew up in the farmland of northwestern Germany, knew zero about Thanksgiving until she met me, and it was still several years after that before she ever saw a turkey cooked.

She has gotten used to my American idiosyncrasies in the meantime, and our friends in the area know that this is the one day of the year that Americans eat better than the French (or the Germans) do (see Art's column). We often have between 15 to 20 people over, usually a mix of Germans, Austrians, Dutch, and the occasional American who got lost on the way home. My wife orders a 15 to 18 kilogram turkey (I still think it's from an ostrich farm, but they swear it's a locally raised turkey). Even after the crowd that is here, we usually have enough leftovers to feed the Chinese army for a week. So if anyone is in the neighborhood, feel free to stop by. If you don't speak German or Dutch, you will miss out on a lot of the conversation, but the food won't be any less good for that.

[B Stieg]

14. Me, also.

Except I hit the 60 y.o. mark last month! Congrats!

[mnhtnbb]

15. Happy upcoming birthday!

I, too, have been alone for Thanksgiving the last two years. The first year I was living at the beach after separating from my husband of 32 years. I was ok with not spending all day in the kitchen. Last year I made a turkey breast, stuffing in the oven and mashed potatoes for myself. This year I am moving today-- and spent all weekend on moving--from my current apartment to another apartment 12 floors up in the same building. My son and his partner are cooking Thursday and I will bring a pie that I bought from a local pie company. I am very happy not to cook again this year.

Do something fun for yourself.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

16. Happy birthday and a peaceful Thanksgiving to you, Archae.

Even when spent alone, Thursday can be turned into a special day of our own making by simply honoring its intended meaning - that of humility, charity and showing gratitude.

I have a ton of things to be angry and fearful about from this year and may wind up like you, spending Thanksgiving alone. But, I'm hoping to find ways such as a gratitude list and helping others which should bring some peace and serenity into my heart. I have friends I can help with groceries and clothing, and I hope to have the courage to call some to just thank them for being in my life.

One of my most special Thanksgivings I can recall was spent in a motel room after a very long day of field-service work in a power plant far from home during their annual scheduled outage. I was cold, dirty, tired and hungry and looking forward to a plate of turkey and dressing at one of my favorite family-style restaurants but found all restaurants closed. Most closed early so the employees could spend time at home and that was a good thing.

So, life gave me lemons and I managed to make lemonade. I stopped in at Walmart and found a turkey and dressing TV dinner and had that meal in my room. Not very good, but at least symbolic. I also called some friends to thank them for their love and friendship and to make light of my crazy day and motel misery.

Hope your Thanksgiving and birthday are serene and you can be thankful for making it to 60 and for not gorging yourself on way too much food and football.

That will help you make to 61......... ........

[lillypaddle]

17. Hope you can enjoy your Thanksgiving

I've been alone on many Thanksgivings, and I've grown to like it. I always fix a small turkey, dressing, and mashed potatoes & gravy at least. I've bought myself a Maria Callender frozen pecan pie - they're really good! I look forward to having leftovers for a few days.

My kids are going to visit my DIL's Father and girlfriend in Illinois, and I'm down with that. I want my granddaughter to get to know her grandpa.

Anyway, maybe you should start a thread in the lounge here at DU on Thursday - we can check in and maybe it won't seem so lonely for you. The lounge is always fun.

See you Thursday?

[Archae]

18. My thanks to everyone...

I do consider Thanksgiving more or less to be a "useless holiday" since our family grew up.
(And moved apart...)

When I was a kid we'd go to my "Gramma's" house, and have a dinner with uncles, aunts and cousins.

Gramma (my Mom's mother) died in 1989, and we've drifted apart, mostly family get-togethers are just the immediate family, my sisters, their families, and my Mom.

We do plan to get together somewhat on Christmas. Not sure though.

[hlthe2b]

19. I have a mega long work day on Friday and a long commute, so a day off to myself on Thanksgiving

sounds heavenly. I have some turkey breast I could cook if so inclined, but frankly, I don't.

Just a relaxing day for me and my pup--and we very likely will have the trails and bike paths to ourselves. Since we are expecting heavy snow most of the week, the golf course will be my pup's domain as well! If you love and own dogs, you already have good company!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. Me, too, which is fine with me.

I'll buy some pre-cooked turkey and share it with the cats. Most of my family is gone now and I never cared much for Thanksgiving anyhow. It's just another day. Cheers!