A Thanksgiving Message

[John FL]

As Christmas became more and more commercialized, I found Thanksgiving Day was the one holiday where old-fashioned values of spending time with loved ones and giving thanks for how truly blessed we all are were very comforting. Well, even Thanksgiving is now under assault.

Last Friday when we were out to eat, I couldn’t help but notice a family of four – a mom and a dad and late teen-age or 20ish boy and girl. They only seemed to speak when their order was taken. All of them had their heads down as they were busy doing all kinds of things with their smart phones. Here was an occasion for a family to catch up with each other on what they did during the week and yet they acted like strangers. I’m not expecting a 50’s sitcom but this just can’t be the new norm.

Retailers probably wish more people were like them. Thanksgiving for a growing number of people means camping out by the electronics store and eating junk food. Sometimes I question my relevance about how I see things. Maybe I’m just old-fashioned.In this case, I wear the badge proudly.

At any rate, I wish you all an old-fashioned Thanksgiving. Overeat, feel no guilt about it and actually talk to people without texting, give thanks and fall asleep content. There’s always time to spend your money and find a bargain. However, that quality time and those special memories – they are priceless.

 

[nfladxer]

JohnJax, Thank You, for your honest, caring, insightful opinions and contributions on this board. I hope you and your family have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[radioboy]

I agree with your sentiments, JohnJax. I have just a plain cell phone myself and that really is all I need.

Finally got an iPad a few months ago to update my station and such. We don't use these when we go out to eat, except for emergency calls and such.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

[Rob]

That is well said, we seem to be about the all mighty dollar. Our forefathers are tossing in their graves now as we seem to lost what they bleed for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[gamefreak]

That is truly sad, I too would rather eat dinner with my family and have a nice conversation. Not play with my smart-phone at the table and avoid my family. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and seeing people you normally would not see all year. Not camping out in front of stores for $299 Ipads and X-Boxes.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

[tomservo]

Oh, I think the "heads buried in the smartphones" thing is over-wrought. The family probably all lives together and they share their lives at home where no one sees it. I don't wait to share my day with people until we're in public where everyone can hear it. I use my smartphone at the dinner table when I'm dining out with friends and family (mostly family, my parents are retired and vow to never cook again, lol) but it doesn't mean that real world is shut out, it just means there's a lull in the conversation or I'm looking up some piece of information related to what we're talking about.

As for the almighty dollar and greed, we have no one to blame but ourselves. The only way shops will stop pushing holidays on us sooner is to stop shopping for gifts so soon. The only way Christmas music isn't going to be starting before Thanksgiving is if we collectively STOP LISTENING TO STATIONS THAT DO THAT CRAP.

Christmas music does not touch my radio until about two weeks before the holiday, and that's also about the time I get serious with gift buying. Until the rest of the nation follows suit, I think we're stuck with this terrible situation. And until parents tell their kids "no phones at the table," don't expect that to change, either. It may be sad, but it's "progress". As we've learned with IBOC, progress isn't always positive.