A Short Guide to the American Thanksgiving
For my readers outside the U.S., Thanksgiving is perhaps the most American of holidays—a late-November Thursday dedicated to turkey, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and enough starches to astonish even Babar the Elephant (who once puzzled over why Americans serve four different potato dishes at the same meal).
The classic image is Norman Rockwell’s Freedom From Want: smiling family, giant turkey, everything glowing. Real life, of course, is messier. When I was young, Thanksgivings were spent at my parents’ modest home in Pittsburgh, where my mother would work for days preparing a feast the size of a small aircraft carrier. Dinner always began with a prayer and a slow circle of “what we’re thankful for,” which lasted long enough for the turkey to cool and the mashed potatoes to congeal.
As the years passed and my parents were gone, I took on hosting duties myself. In Palm Springs, I’d roast the turkey and ask friends to bring their favorite sides. The faces changed, the food varied, but the impulse stayed the same: gather, eat, give thanks.Thanksgiving has evolved into a national ritual of gratitude wrapped inside a weekend of travel chaos and, perhaps inevitably, a shopping day which now stretches from Thursday night to “Cyber Monday” and beyond. Only in America could a moment of reflection be followed so quickly by a stampede for televisions and air fryers.
This year I’ll be heading to my brother’s farm in Ohio. And despite the airports and the weather and the lines, I look forward to that brief moment when everyone sits down, breathes, and remembers why we’re here at all.
Because at its heart, Thanksgiving is a reminder—simple and powerful. We only get one go-round, and even in complicated times, we have so much to be grateful for.
The Suspense Book Club. This Month's Free Mystery:
The Long Fall from Grace, by best-selling Veronica Mixon
The Long Fall from Grace, by best-selling Veronica Mixon
Veronica Mixon is an Amazon Chart-Topping author and Florida native, has spent the past two decades embracing the beauty of Georgia’s scenic coast, where she realized her lifelong dream of writing mystery and suspense. Known for her gripping tales that navigate the shadowy depths of Savannah’s haunting allure, Veronica pulls readers into a labyrinth of mystery and suspense, making it impossible to put down her books until the last twist is revealed.
In her downtime, Veronica enjoys a fulfilling life with her husband, her steadvast partner in love and adventure, and their lively Australian Labradoodle, Fiddler.
For Julia Shaw, failure isn’t an option, but this time it could cost a child’s life.As one of the State Department’s top international security agents, Julia has built her career on results. When a young American boy vanishes from a bus stop in São Paulo, Brazil, she’s thrust into a race against time that pushes every boundary she has ever known.
Haunted by guilt from a past case gone wrong, Julia battles bureaucracy, corruption, and a ruthless kidnapper who always seems one step ahead. As the stakes climb higher and the clock ticks down, she must decide how far she’s willing to go for justice and how much she’s willing to risk to save an innocent life.
The Long Fall from Grace is a gripping international thriller of justice, redemption, and the price of doing what is right. Perfect for fans of Tess Gerritsen, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Gardner.
Praise for the Savannah Mystery Series:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Kate's husband absconded with her son after two women are killed this is an explosive start to an excellent series.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ There are two heroines to this tale Tess (the ghost) is an extremely interesting character.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This is such a great read I can't recommend it highly enough I really did enjoy every page.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The story draws you in like sweet tea on a hot summer day.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Righting wrongs, grasping at truth and clarity, being brave when you're confused, betrayed and want to hide.
Another great Suspense Book Club selection--as always, totally free for James Dain subscribers. Just CLICK HERE.
And Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Truly yours,
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