To everyone at DU at Thanksgiving,

[tenshi816]

I'd like to wish you all a very happy holiday tomorrow and ask that you spare a thought for us ex-patriate DUers for whom the fourth Thursday in November is now "just another day". People go to work, children go to school, and turkey is something no one thinks about eating until December 25.

No parades. No football. I'm sure some of you would say good riddance, but I miss it all (including that godawful green jello salad my mother used to make, with the cream cheese and pecans, even though I always hated it).

It's the one time of year I get truly, truly homesick. I've lived most of my adult life in England and I love it, but right this minute I'm so sad because, damnit, I miss Thanksgiving. Yeah, I can still make a nice dinner with all the trimmings, but it's not the same somehow.

Having said all that, I'll still find time for reflection about the good things in my life. This year, like last year, one of the things I'm thankful for is the community that I've found here. There are some mighty fine people at DU.

Enjoy the day, everyone.

[dcfirefighter]

1. Thank you

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, food, family, a little booze, not too much shopping, an open face turkey sandwich in the evening, and some great naps.

I'm a bit of an anglophile, so I hope you enjoy the UK as much I have on my short visits there.

[cfield]

2. I hope your day is special

even without it being called 'Thanksgiving'.

[Call Me Wesley]

3. We won't have turkey,

but we sure will have a Thanksgiving dinner here in Switzerland. No matter if anyone else has it or not.

Happy Thanksgiving, tenshi816! :hi:

[hfojvt]

4. just a minute there

I thought they averaged 25 paid vacation days in Europe. So why can't the day be taken as vacation?
Also, at least here in Kansas, Dollar General is going to be open tomorrow from 9 until 6. So some people are going to work here too.

[tenshi816]

7. Oh, yeah, it could be taken as vacation,

but since I'm self-employed that's not the issue anyway. It's the holiday feeling that's lacking. I'm sure Canadians living in the States feel the same way on their Thanksgiving Day.

It's one of those things you don't miss until it's not so much there anymore.

[CottonBear]

5. Thank you tenshi816! Happy Thanksgiving to you & your family as well!

Hi from Athens, GA. It is a cold and overcast typical November day. The sun sets early these days. It just got totally dark here at 5:30 pm. I love Thanksgiving too! My mom has made many jello salads over the years! Her special was lime Jello with Libby's fruit cocktail suspended in the Jello! It's a Southern thing! Well, I'm off to feed Cotton and then go home and pack for our drive to Mom's home in Chattanooga in the morning. Take care.

:hi: Happy Thanksgiving!

[tenshi816]

8. CB, did I ever tell you that I went to UTC?

I used to babysit Chantek the Orangutan there...

And Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

[CottonBear]

9. I didn't know that! My brother graduated from UTC!

They had Chantek the Orangutan at UTC? That's news to me! Wow! you babysat one of those beautiful creatures! I'm jealous!

[tenshi816]

10. Yep, back when he was a baby.

Here's a newspaper photo from back in the day:



That's me on the right, with the baby Chantek reaching across the top of the playpen to grasp my hand. I look like I have major cleavage although it's just a necklace hanging down over a light colored t-shirt! I also don't have a huge black mark on my cheek; it's from the original newspaper article being folded up in a box with a gazillion other photographs for years.

It was a special time of my life, being involved with the project.

[usedtobesick]

6. and a wish back to you and those around you a great day together!

:cheers: