In a typical week I read a lot of surveys. First of all: I’m curious about many things. And second of all: I do a daily talk show so it helps to give me something to talk about.
“Hey! Did you know…..”
For instance, I learned this week that the average nurse walks 4.5 miles a DAY. I knew it was a lot but I didn’t know it was THAT much!
According to a recent survey, 23% of Americans said Thanksgiving was their favorite holiday.
Some of the key points:
- 79% view Thanksgiving positively.
- Many people appreciate the emphasis on spending time with family and friends.
- And you can’t beat the food!
Another reason why people like Thanksgiving so much is you don’t have the pressure of gift-giving or shopping. Unless you’re cooking, of course.
Christmas is still the most favorite day of the year. It gets 36% of the vote.
The Top Five:
- Christmas
- Thanksgiving
- Halloween
- Easter
- Mother’s Day
I’ve always enjoyed Thanksgiving. Christmas is my favorite but I do think Turkey Day is a close second.
I have noticed that we’re getting more and more Thanksgiving movies. It’s still nowhere near the same as Christmas but we’re getting there.
It used to be just “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” but now a quick Google search shows me plenty more. I don’t know if they’re any good but there is a list. It even includes the horror movie “Thankskilling!” Description: “A possessed turkey terrorizes five college students during Thanksgiving break.”
“Honey! I have a suggestion for movie night!!!”
I did wonder if the Hallmark Channel had any Thanksgiving offerings since they do so much for Christmas. I’m happy to report they do not disappoint. You’ll find several Hallmark movies about autumn, fall harvest, pumpkin pie and these holiday treats:
“A Family Thanksgiving” 2010
“Love At The Thanksgiving Day Parade” 2012
“An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving” 2008
“The Thanksgiving House” 2013
I’m sure they’re streaming somewhere.
For the longest time I didn’t think we had any Thanksgiving songs. Then I learned that “Jingle Bells” is actually about Thanksgiving. There is no mention of Christmas and I think the line “Over the River and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go,” refers to going to grandma’s house for turkey!
Bing Crosby had a song in the movie “Holiday Inn” back in the day called “I’ve Got Plenty To Be Thankful For.”
Of course there’s Adam Sandler’s “The Thanksgiving Song” and who can ever forget Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant”? All 22 minutes of it.
I went back in the archives before I wrote this week’s column so I wouldn’t repeat myself.
In 2018 I wrote, “The number of chairs around our Thanksgiving table has changed throughout the years.” I thought about that the other night as I looked around the table and remembered who sat where. We also had the Kid’s Table off to the side with my nieces and my children.
Good times.
I remember my aunt who always wanted to know how much the turkey weighed. We never knew why she was so curious but she always needed to know. She was the same aunt who, when she couldn’t decide whether to have apple pie or pumpkin pie, would just have a slice of each. It’s come to be known as “The Braley Way.”
In 2020 I interviewed my cousin, Harry Lowe, a member of the coaching staff at New Bedford High School. That was the Covid year and it was titled, “The Thanksgiving Without High School Football.”
Then, with three children on active duty in the Navy, I’ve written about the changes with some of them overseas or eating cold turkey on aircraft carriers. One year I wrote to my son, Doug, and said, “At least they feed you a Thanksgiving Dinner don’t they? He replied that by the time he got there (he was on night check) he had “something with gravy on it” and mozzarella sticks.
Life changes. People move in and out of your life for many different reasons. Chances are the number of chairs around your table has changed countless times. Remember the good times and take a moment to remember those that have passed on.
I hope, at some point over the next week, you have time to stop and count your blessings. Sometimes it’s difficult to see them but, trust me, they are there.
I have so much to be thankful for this year. I hope you do too.
Happy Thanksgiving my friend!
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