Rant #2,266: The Turkey

Well, we are almost there.

It is nearly Thanksgiving Day, and for me, it will be a two-day pause in my life, a time when I give thanks for what I have--which is a lot--and perhaps reflect on what I don't have, too.

But the focus is on what I am thankful for, and I am thankful for quite a bit.

I am thankful for having a loving wife, my life partner who I have been married to for more than a quarter century, and who I will live out the rest of my life with.

I am thankful for my children, who give me plenty of tsuris, but who, at the same time, keep me young and have given me a direction in life.

I am thankful for loving parents, who are still around, as lively as people who are a quarter of their age, and who always provide an ear to at least listen to what I have to say.

I am thankful to have a solid extended family, including my sister and her husband and her family, my wife's brothers and their families, and my own aunt and uncle network, who don't see me very often but are always supportive.

I am thankful for having a job to go to five days a week, although it is a volatile position, and I simply do not know how long it will last.

I am thankful for some other things, like having a good car, having good friends, and having the ability to be able to voice whatever I want to through my ability to write the written word, which is an ability that is often overlooked, but I pride myself in the fact that it is something that I can do pretty well.

I am thankful for this column, which provides me a platform for whatever I want to talk about.

And, although I know I missed some things, let me conclude this part of today's Rant with the following:

I am thankful for having my health, because without at least decent health, you really have nothing.

Some people around me are not in good health right now, or at least could be in better health than they are. 

Until they are better than they are right now, my mind will not be at ease at all.

And I am not just talking about what you would call physical health; I am talking about mental health as well.

Your mind, your body and your soul must all be properly aligned, and when they aren't, things are not what they should be, and right now, there are people in my life who don't have that balance.

I am hoping over the next few days, the next few months and into the future, that, through various means, they will regain that balance, and move on with their lives in a normal pattern.

I think about those people, and I know that with some alterations--figuratively and literally--that they will make it.

But let's not get too down here. Let's get things lively again, because Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday on the calendar.

We are going to my sister's house tomorrow, and I am going to eat to my heart's content, and being with family, we are going to have a great time.

I am going to watch "March of the Wooden Soldiers" first, in black and white, of course.

And I am going to listen to "The Turkey," my favorite Thanksgiving song, even though it probably wasn't designed as such.

The song ended up as the B side of the Raiders (formerly Paul Revere and the Raiders) single "Birds of a Feather," and this "birdy" single is pretty much forgotten, even by oldies radio.

But when it comes Thanksgiving time, it is time to roll out "The Turkey," a nearly four-minute goof of a song that is even better, but far less mainstream, than its A side.

So "The Turkey" it will be. You can listen to this song yourself at https://youtu.be/WhuqtmvRlbs

So have a great holiday, don't forget to shop your local record stores on Black Friday Record Store Day, and I will speak to you again on Monday.

Gobble Gobble!