Great post, Donna. One of my favorite parts of our holiday tradition has always been that we are an "open house" for Thanksgiving- anyone and everyone is welcome. It's really built a great extended family, with new people added every year.

Donna,
I agree with Waymon. Absolutely great. Seems you finally got the hang of being a decent writer. (giggle)

This December 17 will be the fourth anniversary of my father's death. This was a major turning point in my family accepting me back into the fold. The 7.5 years previous to that I was not allowed to see my parents or enter the house I grew up in.

But, when my father laid on his death bed in Phoenix, my mother wanted me to come home. I called the hospice room from Atlanta and my sister put the phone to his ear. I got to tell him I loved him, and he made a sound. My sister said my voice was the only thing he reacted to the rest of the time.

I was able to go home and while I waited at the Atlanta airport for my flight, I got a call from my youngest son saying my father had passed away. I was never able to look into my father's eyes one last time. Christmas was not Christmas for our family, and for my mother since then.

I have been back for every year since for either Christmas or Thanksgiving, except this year. Since I spent all of my vacation time and money on being at my son's wedding in October, I will be at work for Thanksgiving and alone for Christmas. I will cry on Dec 17, but I will still be able to smile on Christmas. Because, I know my family loves me.

Thank you for this post, Donna! I'm so glad you've broached the topic. Even though I've got loved ones in my life, a good job, and a great lifestyle from a materialistic point of view, as a queer person living in a decidedly non-queer area, I frequently battle loneliness and it's particularly hard during the holidays.

During a time that celebrates emotional connection, it's hard to feel like a "misfit."

An interesting note about Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving, as a national Holiday, is also a very Union holiday.

It was created in the Federal system by the same President who today sits as a constant reminder of the true meaning of the words: All men are created equal.

Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving as a permanent national Holiday after a campaign by Sarah Josepha Hale to enshrine what until then was observed somewhat fitfully for decades.

it was in the middle of the Civil War. From that point until the great depression, it was the last Thursday of the month.

It became the fourth when Congress, reacting to the actions of FDR (arguably the most popular president in US history), mandated it as the Fourth Thursday in order to give the economy a boost.

It is, sadly, going to be overlooked in terms of its "traditional" roots by many.

for it was freedom of religion which allowed it to be -- an escape from persecution.

(Then again, the ones being persecuted were fundamentalists. You'd think after having experienced persecution and the loss of civil rights they'd...)