Paul the Pilgrim Celebrates Thanksgiving

This is Paul the Pilgrim.


He appears on the Jerkins' kitchen countertop every year after Halloween is over. He joins the almost-empty pumpkin jar of candy corn and helps us set our minds on Thanksgiving.

I love Thanksgiving.

and I believe that, as time goes by, Thanksgiving is getting dissed.

Who doesn't love Thanksgiving? It's a day to EAT. It's a day to be AMERICAN. It's a day that involves no religious or heavy cultural implications. You can't disgree with anyone for celebrating Thanksgiving, unless you hate America. [And if you dislike America that much, then you should maybe think of relocating?]

Notwithstanding that growing up, my school mascot for 14 years was a turkey--and I have a soft spot for turkeys--Thanksgiving deserves its brief time in the sun.

Beyond fixing an extravagant meal, the expectations are few. The traditions do not carry all of this if-we-don't-do-such-and-such-we-do-every-year-I-will-just-be-crushed mish-mash.

The absence of such emotional baggage is more precious to me the further into adulthood I travel.

All of this aside, the Jerkins do NOT decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. My husband is even stringent about avoiding hearing Christmas music until the Friday after Thanksgiving. Now, I understand that the retail industry in America now commences Christmas celebrations on November 1st...but the Jerkins do not.

We continue to enjoy our pumpkins and harvest-y additions to the house. And we enjoy Paul the Pilgrim.


Some other delightful Thanksgiving items:

Acorn candle-filler stuff, here:


Nut wreath, I LOVE YOU! [here]


Delightful turkey plate [here]


Please don't misunderstand: I love Christmastime. I love yuletide glee. But I love celebrating at its appropriate time. In the appropriate season.

'Tis the season to celebrate giving thanks!

...for we have a lot for which to be thankful.