My childhood Thanksgiving memories are of family and feasting and stories of the first Thanksgiving. I remember learning that story at our one-room country school and making paper turkeys… and memorizing “Over the river and through the wood.”
That poem/song painted quite the nostalgic picture and quite probably created unrealistic expectations - at least in this girl’s head - to the point where I was disappointed if we didn’t have snow for Thanksgiving Day!
Adulting adjusted some of those expectations - especially after we became foster parents. Holidays were complicated for foster kids. International students were curious about American traditions and asked tough questions. For two decades we opened the Christmas tree farm on Thanksgiving weekend… and our kids brought friends home from college who couldn’t get to their own home. Talk about some amazing memories!
Most recently I have come to realize that that first Thanksgiving might not have been as idyllic as the words and images we have pictured. Perhaps our forefathers were not as noble as we would like to portray. I can imagine it was at best a mixed bag. I can believe that there were negative interactions with horrific implications. Hopefully there were also true stories of kindness and goodness and thankfulness and hospitality.
Supposedly we need to understand history if we don’t want to repeat. We certainly know that human beings can be pretty awful to each other. That we tend to use our privilege and power to “oppress” those with less. Fortunately, we also have a vast treasure trove of stories that illustrate the good hearts and noble actions of people toward their neighbors near and far. That’s the part I can celebrate.
I might not have the full story.
I will admit and appreciate my privilege.
I hope to use what I have to help others.
As we extend our table, we reap so many benefits.
We might even get to enjoy some new exotic flavors…
