For Squanto and 395 Years Ago

Happy Thanksgiving Antoinette!

Ever since Good Ol Abe designated the 4th Thursday in November as a Thanksgiving Holiday*, we Americans gather to give thanks for all our blessings. A day when colonists and Indians lay down their flintlocks and tomahawks...at least until the Cowboys and Redskins kick off! (Thank God Texas joined the union, Pilgrim just doesn't have the same gridiron appeal, and that's the potato variety of redskins for you uber sensitive types) It's a day to celebrate the friendship of Squanto (the founder of Welcome Wagon) who helped the pilgrims overcome the primitive conditions of the new world by teaching them how to plant corn, hunt the elusive Turducken, use feathers as rabbit ears to get better reception on the tv for the big game (only UHF in those days boys and girls, no HD), and in traditional native custom established the first casino and sports book... opening line was even money. We gather to give thanks for our blessings as Americans, for football and fellowship while we are also fortifying ourselves to endure black Friday, large holiday credit card bills, the genocide of 45 million turkeys, and making sure we are fat enough to survive another winter hibernation. And what better way to give thanks, celebrate victories, drown out defeats, or be more drowsy than tryptophan than to drink wine. Unfortunately, the colonist hadn't time to plant grape vines, so they were left with hard cider as their drink to give thanks.  Cider is an excellent beverage to sip while you’re preparing the dinner, but Thanksgiving requires more pizzazz and alcohol content. Instead, go with something sparkling, or perhaps a Pinot Noir or earthy Zinfandel! It's only important that it be your choice, and that your choice be wine! Eat hearty America, nap well, and remember... you're at the big table now....drink as much wine as you want, you aren't going anywhere...that lazyboy has already been reserved!

*Appropriate that Lincoln decreed in 1863 that the Thursday after his Gettysburg Address would become a national holiday. A good time to give thanks for our blessings and to remember  "...that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain." GBA.