I was sitting at my computer, looking up tips and tricks to the perfect gravy, and I glanced outside. Cars were starting to pile up at our neighbor’s house. It’s Thanksgiving Day and most people are hosting or traveling to a Thanksgiving Day feast.
I’ve lived away from my family for about 30 years. I’ve been a teacher for most of those years and with Thanksgiving break so short, and travel so crazy and expensive this time of year, I’ve been alone for almost every single Thanksgiving.
In the early, single years, I’d work at a soup kitchen. But on Thanksgiving Day there is a glut of volunteers and I’d always feel in the way. Once married, it’d be just us two, and I’d cook a tiny feast that felt empty and lack luster. Add a daughter and I’d try to make it a bit more festive with a baking or craft project.
We now have a much fuller house with three kids. We have our traditions of Thanksgiving Day parade with breakfast, The National Dog Show with lunch, football with snacks and then a not-so-tiny feast. My kids love it because we’re not a big television family and on Thanksgiving Day the TV is on all day long. We also play board games and cook together, television humming in the background.
In past years, I’ve tried to reach out to those that may be alone for Thanksgiving. My attempts were met by skepticism. Not surprising, they were unsuccessful and we now stick to just us five.
So, as much as I love our small family on Thanksgiving Day, I was a bit wistful, watching the guests pour into our neighbor’s home.
And then, I clicked on msn.com and found this story.
A Massachusetts man, Scott Macaulay, invites perfect strangers, who may be alone for the holidays, into his home for a Thanksgiving meal. He has done this for the past 28 years and the event has grown from a few strangers to almost 90.
It all started with an ad in the local paper. He was 24 years old and his parents recently divorced. He didn’t want to be alone on Thanksgiving Day. He reached out. He bravely put himself out there. And others bravely answered in kind.
I just wanted to bring a little extra attention to an amazing man.
Wishing you and yours love and good food and good company on this Thanksgiving Day!
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