As one of the few American holidays that hasn’t been completely usurped by religious or commercial interests (the traditional Day-After-Thanksgiving-Shopping-Mêlée notwithstanding), Thanksgiving is a time for reflection and contemplation.  The feast I will enjoy, surrounded by those whose love and friendship I treasure most, is but a proxy for reminding myself not only how much I enjoy life and all it has to offer, but also how extraordinarily fortunate I find my circumstances and the opportunities presented to me.  As we go through our daily hustles, it is easy to lose sight of the basic tenants of a good life—loving family, close friends, employment that not only provides for the body but also nutures the mind, and the overwhelming beauty of nature and its intricacies.  Thanksgiving means something unique for each of us, but I hope you’ll join me in giving thanks for the things we have and rededicating ourselves to helping, without judgment, the many people in our country and across the world who find themselves in less fortunate positions.  In the meantime, please enjoy this beautifully glowing rendition of George Winston’s “Thanksgiving” as it evokes the essence of the season and its sumptuous landscapes.

Copyright © Ted C. MacRae 2009