ALT TEXT: A nearly entirely dark black image with shapes that appear to be trees lining a path that ends with an indistinct light obscured by a large tree trunk.
A collection of reflections today:
The traditional US Thanksgiving Day is my favorite holiday of the year, and at this point the only major holiday I observe.
I’ve long appreciate that it is perhaps the least commercialized holiday. Yet, it’s getting harder and harder to ignore all of the pre- and post- “Days” that surrounding the Thursday holiday.
The history of Thanksgiving in the US is not great. Today, I celebrate food and family while acknowledging how violently my European settler ancestors oppressed indigenous people.
Both my mother’s father and mother’s mother are descended from Pilgrims who were likely present in 1621 at the autumn harvest festival with the Wampanoag people.
This is the first Thanksgiving of my life without my mom alive.
This is a day of transition. As Pete Seeger put it:
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weepTo everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
I wish all the best to everyone observing today’s Fall harvest festival.
Blessings to you today, comrade—thankful for you and all you do for our community ❤️🙏