It doesn’t get much better than family gathering over a sacred bird once a year.
My wife and I have been very lucky (luck of the draw) in that our parents were all good, decent, kind people. A lot of people can’t say that and have a lot of negative persons and conflict to deal with in their ‘family’ situations and gatherings.
Both my wife and I parted company with extended family of the negative variety (users, manipulators, greedy types, phonies, hypocrites, et al) after we were married and have been very lucky on that count. It does require conscious choice and sticking to it, though. A small price/tradeoff for all the negativity and usages subsequently deleted.
Our own kids are well-balanced, hard-working, cordial people. They turned out very well contrasted with, for instance. multi-relationship stay-at-home druggies who cause their parents much grief and drain their savings dry.
The grandkids are both very interesting, funny, imaginative individuals to be around. Another huge plus.
No, I know well–from many others’ stories–that we have been very lucky with/in Family. Couldn’t be better. And, at the same time, I know for a fact that many families are conflicted, unnecessarily messed up, and destructive to individual lives. Toxic stuff.
In our case, I appreciate that Family means nothing but positives, mutual support, and excellent humour on our home front. We have much thankfulness, appreciation, and gratitude come Thanksgiving. And it is my heartfelt Thansksgiving wish that life should be that easy, pleasant, and fulfilling for all others.
ps/ A Big Kudo to those in our society who selflessly prepare and serve Thanksgiving dinners for the poor living among us. Christian-style charity at its best. Charity remains one of the top three aspects of Western civilization still practised in our increasingly uncivil, bullying, and unappreciative times.