Giving Thanks

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, my musing turns to giving thanks. Past blogs concerning this holiday have focused on arcane trivia and myths. This year I will reflect on that for which I am grateful. Of course, I must include some arcana. What did you expect...rubber biscuit?

What constitutes the first Thanksgiving on this continent blurs in the mist of time. In 1565, Spanish gave thanks for their settlement in St. Augustine, FLA. In 1578, Martin Frobisher, held a formal Thanksgiving after he and his crew survived a perilous journey from England to the northern Canadian coastline searching for the Northwest passage. Another was staged in 1607 in Jamestown, Va. and there again in 1619. In 1620, the Pilgrims gave thanks for landing safely in Novus Orbis. Many looking for a fresh start in this land gave thanks after their arduous adventure.

These were not celebrations, but religious services. They thanked the Lord for success in uncertain lands with dangerous risks. What we call the first Thanksgiving, held in the Plymouth Plantation in 1621, was more a Harvest Home festival. Rather than fasting and prayers, it involved feasting and merrymaking.

In the 390 years since that event, Americans have done what we do best. We have adapted, absorbed and morphed other traditions into a unique amalgamation - the American Thanksgiving. We have also done what we do worst - commercialized and corrupted it into a pre-Christmas, ubercapitalistic sell-a-thon. But thy focus begets thy vision. I will endeavor to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and won't mess with Mr. InBetween.

Giving thanks is the keynote of the season. It have much to be thankful for, but will abridge my list to the most important.  First on that list is my muse, Kristin. Next is family and friends. Without your mirth, love and joi de vivre, life would be just existence. So thank you all - as ever BB

"Rejoicing in our joy, not suffering over our suffering, makes someone a friend." - Friedrich Nietzsche


PS - on a more selfish note, I would not have been fortunate enough to experience the exhilaration and satisfaction of performing in front of an audience without the support of my friends and my muse. A special thank you for that - this is a photo of my gig at Leadbetters this past Saturday.