Personally, I love thanksgiving because it is a sanctioned opportunity to rally around food and eating, something that can’t possibly be divisive (like religion, politics, etc) since all of us need it (well, unless you are the cook and have to please everyone). What I am not thankful for is how the rest of the four day weekend has been hijacked for shopping (not that I participate). I think there should be a national campaign to erase “black Friday” from the lexicon and any shopping activity from the agenda. I realize I sound un-American, especially during a recession, but how is it that we follow such a wonderful holiday with the airwaves filled with news about shopping statistics and whether the holiday shopping season will prop up the economy. Two years ago, all of us Americans were told we spend and consume too much. Now we’re being encouraged to spend and spend more to help the ec0nomy.

Just make enough on Thursday for the entire weekend, and stay home and eat leftovers with your friends and family.

Are you surprised I made a new name for myself over this weekend? Cantankerarian

Jason and Dionne–Thanks for your comments. I totally hear what you’re saying about the rampant consumerism that’s been proliferating this season, especially over the last few years (at least, that’s when I started to really notice it). I don’t want more things, and I don’t want to buy more things, especially in the name of the holiday “spirit.” This has made it particularly difficult for my family Christmas present buying this year, but I think I have an interesting solution. In fact, I’m compelled to write about it on the blog today.

Christmas has become the yin to Thanksgiving’s yang. If we just take the Chrtist out of Christmas, we can call it what it is, “Pleasasking Day!”

Since please and thank you are like peas and carrots, like peanutbutter and jelly, like Lennon and Ono, we just continue to treat treat Pleasasking as a day to request stuff. Any stuff: Football cleats, Oragami Cranes, Proton Packs, Investment Capital (my brother’s personal favorite)… whatever! We say please a lot at Thanksgiving, so of course we say thank you on Pleasasking day too. “Thank you for pleasing me!” I think it will take off. And look at all the corporate sponsors we already have!