Orphans' Thanksgiving

2003
Supervising a loved one preparing the meal...resulting in a burn and scar on my right arm...and a very impressed and appreciative extended family.

2004
Road trip to Beverly MA to be adopted by the North Shore Music Theatre interns for turkey day--and the unfortunate viewing of Alexander.

2005
Rutgers graduate designers sponsor the Korean graduate's first turkey--cooked courtesy of A&P Supermarket.

2006
Rutgers Graduate designers gather a second year with friends...dinner all made from scratch this time...with much more booze.

2007
Adopted by the Hawaii Theatre for tree trimming and a more gourmet affair...and fewer familiar faces.

It's been ages since I've spent a Thanksgiving with blood relatives. But everywhere I've gone I've found a group to share a meal with. A welcome and appreciative community. A collection of fellow orphans searching for camaraderie on a day of gratitude. This year, no different. Only thousands of miles further away. And 80 degrees with cool ocean breeze. And home again by 4pm, to hit the sparsely populated beach before the sun slipped away.

And the gratitude creates a domino effect. A pie may need to be en route to someone who spent the entire day working. This is not a day nor a feeling that should be regulated to one 24 hour period. Mmmm...homemade punk'n pie...

Why has this holiday become about the food? The waste and wantonness? Gluttony instead of gratitude? What about stuffing our faces beyond the point of consciousness expresses our thankfulness? Even the churches seem to focus on the material...many not even offering a service today. Gathering to share a meal, celebrate abundance, need not obscenely explode beyond the bounds of moderation. Oh to be with family again...any family...

But everywhere I go. There you are.

Thank you all.