Wednesday, November 26, 2014

A Few Notes

Hey y'all. Sorry I'm still sucking at the whole "regular posting" business. Maybe I'll get better at some point. Or not. In any case, these things have been on my mind lately:

- I don't have the words to explain how I feel about Ferguson. Race and privilege are complicated issues, and I lack the thoughtfulness and eloquence to expound upon them in a meaningful way. But I will say it saddens me, and I hope that we (as a country) can start learning from these events and make progress. Regarding privilege, this story explains it more clearly than others I've read (shoutout to Rachel for posting it on her blog, where I discovered it).

- Fuck Gray Thursday. I cannot and will not get on board with it. I don't even like the idea of Black Friday much, but the fact that it has now crept into the actual holiday bugs the shit out of me. It's like Thanksgiving is not a thing anymore, because it's being swallowed up by Christmas. Christmas will still happen, people. We don't need to stretch it out for weeks. But I'm getting off track. People who work retail should have the full day off to spend with their friends and family (or sit on the couch and watch TV, if that's what you're into) as most of us do. I grew up in a small town where nothing was open on holidays, and we made it through just fine. Yes, of course, things like hospitals would have to be open (and I worked many a holiday while in the newspaper business), but do we really need to go to Macy's on Thanksgiving Day? I think not.

Or THE SAME DAY we give thanks. Does not compute.


- On a happier note, I'm headed to my parents' house tonight to spend the weekend celebrating with them and more family/friends. I made this sweet potato pie, and since every recipe I've made of Joy's was amazing, I'm expecting greatness. So I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. I leave you with a parting thought from someone who is probably smarter than I am.

It is literally true, as the thankless say, that they have nothing to be thankful for. He who sits by the fire, thankless for the fire, is just as if he had no fire. Nothing is possessed save in appreciation, of which thankfulness is the indispensable ingredient. But a thankful heart hath a continual feast.
-- W.J. Cameron