When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Turkey

November 27th, 2008 Posted by Suzy Ogé

Frozen turkeys are on sale at supermarkets across the US, family recipes for sweet potatoes and pecan pie are being prepared while swarms of people make cross country journeys home to take their place around the table for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Yes, it is Thanksgiving Eve! Notoriously the biggest party night of the year, since it is the prelude to the only 4 day weekend on the calendar, a full blown vacation by American standards.

Unfortunately, on my Thanksgiving agenda this year, is a business function that does not involve turkey or pumpkin pie. A Turkey Dinner with friends is planned later in the weekend, but I don’t want to postpone the most important aspect of Thanksgiving, (besides food, family, and football); which is of course gratitude.

I’ve had gratitude on my mind all week, since surviving a treacherous drive back to the Netherlands from Strasbourg, France on Sunday evening in a snow storm. The road conditions were extremely hazardous through Luxembourg, and the Ardene in Belgium with nowhere to wait out the storm and our two bundles of precious cargo strapped in the back seat. There were several fatal accidents and the lucky to be alive feeling that my husband and I shared that night has not faded.

In fact, the incident enabled me to deal (in a surprisingly calm manner) with a disruptive situation beyond my control that has come up this week affecting every aspect of my life including family, work, the precarious juggling act between the two and my personal sanity! It has been a difficult week, but somehow losing control forces you to let go, especially of expectations. I recognize that my problems, like many of yours, are luxury problems. Mere inconveniences, annoyances and disappointments compared to the problems faced by others.

It is when times get tough, that it is most important to focus on all the positive things in your life. This Thanksgiving there will undoubtedly be a cloud of concern over many families gathered around the table as financial concerns grow and more people are out of work. Sounds gloomy, but getting together with family and friends with the sole purpose of reminding each other that we all have things to be thankful for isn’t a bad idea. People really seem to like the idea of stuffing themselves with turkey once a year too!

Check out History.com for everything you ever wanted to know about Thanksgiving.