Thanksgiving 09

While Haim worked for a good portion of the day...as did several of the independent contractors who were renovating a property we own, Noah, Maya and I spent a very relaxed day with my parents and grandma. Haim frequently has interesting cometary and observations regarding American culture...as he is in certain ways an outsider, even after residing here for 10+ years and raising American kids.

He noticed that it was the ONLY day of the year that felt as quiet and restful to him as the weekly Shabbatt does in Israel. I would tend to agree...it is probably as close to a near universal Holiday as we get. Also, he commented that taking the day off was a luxury...not a right. I think this is true to a certain extent. Those working for someone else may see the holiday as an entitlement, but if you work for yourself....time is money. One sub-contractor asked if he worked on thanksgiving, could Haim meet him to pay him...he needed the money to buy his family dinner that night. At the end of the morning, when his job was complete, he received his pay and complete Thanksgiving groceries that I purchased for him the previous day. We have too much as a family to be thankful for, to not be generous with others...regardless of the holiday.







In the morning we went to a small parade with Jaffia, Wenzel and Sidney, and then we spent the rest of the day relaxing..before an early dinner. We were all happily in bed by 9!