spending Thanksgiving alone?

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Joined: 2 May 2006
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23 Nov 2006, 8:50 am

For non-American members, it might be hard to understand the effect of spending Thanksgiving alone. Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to get together, and to be thankful for all the good things in life. I saw a CNN poll on TV this morning that indicated that only 1% weren't going to have Thanksgiving dinner today. I'm one of the "lucky" 1%. It's not by choice. I have relatives close by, but I can't remember the last time I spent Thanksgiving with any of them. I occasionally see them during other times during the year - but never Thanksgiving. I'm not sure why. They know I'm alone today. I do nice things for them for birthdays, etc. I have a responsible job, and people like me at work. I know being an aspie is an obstacle to social interaction. I guess I make people uncomfortable somehow. I don't know.

If you are are having a solitary Thanksgiving today - just know that you're not alone (bad joke).

Time for another G+T.

space_cadet
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23 Nov 2006, 7:26 pm

I only have one friend. He is Iranian. Tonight he had several Thanksgiving dinners to go to, but he found a few minutes to drop by. He brought his Bolivian girlfriend, who brought a bottle of a strange substance called "Casa Real". I mixed this substance with ginger ale, and lime, and ice - and it was very good. I gave them a bottle of Tanqueray in return. We've decided to call this day Thankstaking.

I've only got one friend in this world - and he's a gem.

en_una_isla
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23 Nov 2006, 7:37 pm

I have been thinking today about people who spend Thanksgiving alone.

Thanksgiving is a weird holiday. Probably it is based on the Jewish holiday Sukkot, since the Puritans followed "Old Testament" holidays and rejected holidays like Christmas.

It has evolved into a holiday based on spending time with people in your family and/ or people you care about. People travel long distances to be with family members and loved ones on Thanksgiving.

"Mozart and the Whale" ended with a Thanksgiving feast for the aspie support group, if I recall correctly.

werbert
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23 Nov 2006, 8:15 pm

en_una_isla wrote:

1. Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims, who were Separatists, not Puritans.

2. I have better things to do with a free Thursday than to spend time eating a dry, dead bird and other terrible dishes. Besides, I saw enough of my family this summer.

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Xenon
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23 Nov 2006, 8:36 pm

We have Thanksgiving up here in Canada, too... the second Monday in October (same day as Columbus Day in the US). I spent it alone, at home, curled up on the couch watching movies and drinking Neo-Citran. (I was sick).

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BazzaMcKenzie
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23 Nov 2006, 9:39 pm

space_cadet wrote:

For non-American members, it might be hard to understand the effect of spending Thanksgiving alone ....

I imaging it would be very much like spending Christmas alone.

(even though I don't like getting together with family for Christmas dinner, its better than the alternative.

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jonathan79
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24 Nov 2006, 3:46 am

I had to go to Thanksgiving dinner tonight, when I would rather just be alone. I don't really understand the whole thanksgiving thing anyhow. Are we supposed to be grateful just one day of the year? Why not everyday? Yes, I am also a grinch on Christmas, holidays are less painful when you don't think of them as something special.

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en_una_isla
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24 Nov 2006, 11:09 am

werbert wrote:

1. Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims, who were Separatists, not Puritans.

The Separatists were extremist Puritans!

Re: holidays, and family, it is a complex issue. It hearkens back to the problem that has been following me my whole life; needing privacy and solitude, while being unable to be alone.

werbert
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24 Nov 2006, 11:16 am

en_una_isla wrote:

werbert wrote:

1. Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims, who were Separatists, not Puritans.

The Separatists were extremist Puritans!

Re: holidays, and family, it is a complex issue. It hearkens back to the problem that has been following me my whole life; needing privacy and solitude, while being unable to be alone.

Harkens!

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en_una_isla
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24 Nov 2006, 1:41 pm

Quote:

heark‧en
–verb (used without object)
1. Literary. to give heed or attention to what is said; listen.
–verb (used with object)
2. Archaic. to listen to; hear.
Also, harken.

[Origin: 1150–1200; ME hercnen, OE he(o)rcnian, suffixed form of assumed *heorcian; see hark, -en1]

—Related forms
heark‧en‧er, noun