Dear Reader:

Today we associate beautiful words and terms from America’s first Thanksgiving- words like blessings, bountiful, thanks, feast, and gratitude. There are also some fun expressions that we say or recognize that grew out of this special holiday… some where along the way. *(And even a more serious term few probably have heard about…) Here are some expressions I thought you might enjoy. See how many you have used yourself or heard.

*”To gobble up” – an idiomatic expression that means to eat something completely and rapidly

*cornucopia- A goat’s horn overflowing with fruit, flowers, and grain, signifying prosperity. Also known as a “horn of plenty.” It can be used to mean abundance.

*food coma- A colloquial term for postprandial somnolence which is a state of drowsiness after a meal has been consumed. (The popular turkey myth that it is the amino acid tryptophan in turkey that makes one sleepy after the Thanksgiving meal is just that….a myth. Most likely it is a combination of alcohol and all the carbohydrates (like the mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, mac/cheese and of course dressing who are the real culprits.)

*cold turkey-  an idiomatic expression meaning immediately; without tapering off or cutting down gradually

*turkey trot-A fun run or footrace, usually of the long-distance variety, that is held on or around Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

corny: Originated from the corn crop grown at the first Thanksgiving…the adjective “corny” has a shorter history. It’s been a term of derision only since the 1930s, when something that was “corny” or “cornfed” or “on the cob” was rustic, countrified, old-fashioned, or behind the times – and hence trite or hackneyed. 

*Black Friday: The day or two after Thanksgiving gives people a good opportunity to do some Christmas shopping, since Christmas is generally about a month after Thanksgiving.

However, since so many people had the same idea,  the day after Thanksgiving began to be called Black Friday because it was usually a chaotic, “dark” time to go shopping with so many stores completely full of people.

 *There is a darker side to this expression, however…

It has to do with the slave trade and another type of financial “discount” –

Etymology, the study of the origin of words and expressions becomes a story in itself… sometimes the term refers to finding the truth hidden under a lighter disguise…case in point: “Black Friday.”

I can only imagine the expressions on the original pilgrim/settlers’ faces that first Thanksgiving if they could have seen into the future…they were simply thankful for life that year…representing only a few who survived that first year of settlement…with the help of  Native-Americans.

Yesterday we had sort of a feast right here at the house…all my children and grandchildren and grand-dogs will be gone this Thanksgiving….but Mandy, Kaitlyn, Eva Cate, Jake and the dogs…Pip and Atticus… arrived bearing a feast of “pink moose’ and “white moose” (ham and turkey) sandwiches from Groucho’s. 

And believed me…we gobbled it all up. My greatest joy was seeing everyone, especially the grandchildren, before they left for the holidays. Safe travels and I love you.

So until tomorrow…the best kind of feast is “feasting my eyes” on my family and being with them whenever possible.

Another “feast for the eyes” was my miniature camellia’s first bloom…I was so excited to see it.

Little Pip was excited to come see his Boo Boo too!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh