Lots of people have to work today, but lots more will be hitting the road (or the airport; debatable which mode of transportation is faster – especially if you’re within about a five or six hour drive).  Thanksgiving is one of those nice holidays, for the most part untouched by commercialism.  It celebrates our ancestors’ (or at least our predecessors’) gratitude to the native people, for showing them how to survive.  Since it was about the last decent thing Europeans ever did on this continent, it’s fitting that we’ve made it a four-day weekend.  The other nice thing is that it’s a holiday for which I have absolutely no responsibilities, other than to show up.  Showing up is actually about the only thing I’m any good at.

We’ll be heading over to the in-laws’ tomorrow, and that’s nice, of course, but, well, they’re a bunch of immigrants who don’t give a fliegen fickt about football, so there’ll be none of that.  I have to admit I miss that part of the holiday – have missed it for about 13 years now.  Not that the games were ever that good, or that I ever really cared about the Detroit Lions (and god knows I hate Dallas), but it sure would be nice to stuff my face, and then settle down on the couch to watch the games with my dad again.  Kinda miss my mom flittering around the kitchen, trying to make everything perfect, too.  In all the years we had Thanksgiving at our house, I don’t think I ever saw her sit down long enough to actually eat anything – and my dad actually did most of the cooking (but don’t tell her I said so).  Of course, my mother-in-law does pretty much the same thing, which makes it tough on me, because, no matter how much I eat, if she doesn’t see me eat it, it doesn’t count.  Well, my father-in-law is always up for a couple of beers, and that’s always nice.  Then I can let him beat me at ping-pong.

And, of course, it was 43 years ago today that JFK was shot.  Can’t say as I remember it, since I was barely three years old, but I know a lot of you will never forget where you were when you heard the news.

Anyhow, if you’re traveling today, be careful.  Drive safely, and if you’re flying, keep your precious fluids under 3 ounces (and pack extra underwear in you carry on, just in case).  Otherwise, have a good Wednesday.