The Fearless Foodie

                                              

By Scott Heiner 

Happy Pandemic Thanksgiving 

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this is the weirdest, craziest Thanksgiving and holiday season ever, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

You know how during the holidays, Sam’s Club and COSTCO always features several carts with a nice lady handing out samples of some delicious food item?  This year, they had the carts set up, but you don’t get a sample; you can only look at the food.  Sheesh!

Heeding official warnings against travel and large indoor gatherings, most families celebrated scaled-down Thanksgiving in small groups.  According to the New York Times, 28-30 lb. turkeys are out this year, and smaller 15-20 lb. turkeys are in demand.  As a result, turkey suppliers processed their turkeys earlier when they were younger and smaller.  Other families have resorted to having chicken, ham or even spaghetti for their dinner.

Also, due to smaller family get-togethers, countless less-experienced people will try cooking a turkey for the first time.  To hedge against a burned, undercooked, or other failed turkey, Progressive Insurance has actually offered a "Thanksgiving Turkey Protection Plan."  I’m not kidding! 

Yes, we’re having a weird holiday season to cap off a totally crazy 2020. 

With the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, it’s sometimes easy to forget what Thanksgiving is really about. This holiday of gratitude is centered around giving back, appreciating good fortune, and creating special memories with your family—whether you’re getting together virtually or social distancing in mom’s backyard this year.  Thanksgiving has always been the ultimate family event.  There’s something about spending quality time eating with others that draws you closer to them.

Even though our usual family gatherings are scaled back this year.  Even though we’re struggling through a year fraught with discord, distrust and a global pandemic.  Even though we’ve endured pain and loss, it’s still good to reflect and count our blessings.  In fact, especially this year we ought to focus on the good things in our lives and be thankful for what we do have.  I like the statement of country singer Willy Nelson: “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”  Charles Dickens said, “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”

I’m especially thankful for loving family and friends that so enrich and bless my life.  Family is really the heart of Thanksgiving.  I’m thankful to live in this great land of America with its freedoms and boundless opportunities.

We live in abundance where I get to eat just about any kind of food there is.  As a “foodie”, I’ve eaten dishes from all over the world, which helps cultivate understanding and appreciation for the people and cultures that it comes from.  But even more than that, I’m simply grateful that I have food to eat.  I’ve been blessed that I’ve never had to go hungry.  There are plenty of people in the world who haven’t been so fortunate, and it becomes our responsibility to do what we can to help them. 

By the way, I just learned that on average a panda feeds for approximately 12 hours per day.  This is the same as an adult at home under quarantine, which is why they call it a “pandemic.” 

Happy Pandemic Thanksgiving!