Turkey

Of all that goes into the expense, preparations and cooking of a family-sized turkey feast, just one of three major year-end Government sanctioned holidays, I would think that anyone whom lacks cynicism (at least of the commercial variety of which the holiday spirit has been ingrained and sort of forced upon consumers for centuries)  would they not also be found to be egregious of the holiday symbolism?

Eat

Poultry

Pie

Drink

Alcohol

Excessively

Sleep

It's like an evening of rape and pillage at the annual family dinner table.

Gorging and masticating (gawd this word always conjures some very disturbing and evil imageries in my mind) until one's stomach threatens to blow a hole in its lining, leaking its bile and toxic contents into one's intestines, creating a horrible and painful death!

NO!
YES!
OKAY!

(I think it would be sort of cool if one's body could actually explode from the force of too much food crammed into a small, albeit expanding pouch, that is our stomach. Alas, such cool visuals shall remain stored within the deep, dark recesses of my imagination)

I envision the roasted, flayed and carved up carcass of a flightless bird that once sat (do dead birds sit?) all pretty and gussied up, as if it were waiting to be introduced to for the simple honour and pleasure to impress the Queen of England, and resting on an exquisite bone-china serving platter. Bits of desiccated meat hanging off the breast bone like a moth-eaten curtain that hangs limply inside of a long abandoned home.
The gravy boat that once served as a vessel for piping hot delicious goodness that comprised of homemade broth and the pan drippings from fragrant roasted vegetables., herbs and white wine and the fat from the butter and turkey, is now rendered down to a congealed mass of lumpy, cold, beige-gray of blecgh. The dressing (or stuffing) alongside the garlic mashed potatoes are always the most popular side dishes that are surely to be gone in 60 seconds.

I can't be ascertain about other dishes as I have grown up in a part of the country that does not adhere to the regimental holiday menu beyond the expected main showmanship course and its fellow accomplices. Without fail, some of the myriad of potluck dishes that turn up annually are old standby favourites. Such as ham, some sort of mini frittata cakes, tuna cakes (like crab cakes but made with ahi) nishime (a traditional Japanese stew), tuna casserole, potato salad (no vinegar for you!), mac salad (always heavy on the mayo!), rice (in place of mashed potatoes), maki sushi, custard pie and malasadas. There were more of course but who could remember them all?

In my mind, Thanksgiving has always symbolised the gluttony of the holiday festivities and nothing evermore. Of course there was the annual obligatory writing assignments, whilst in school, of either why I was thankful or what I was most thankful for. Year after year, harried of what I felt was the same, tiresome and stupid questions. With aplomb and indifference, I've always replied in the same, robotic fashion.

"I am most thankful for food."

Because that is what I truly saw around me. The abundance of food. And the sheer ounce of physical and emotional energy to execute such a days long task, only for it to be all consumed and heartily devoured in a matter of minutes.  One thing to note, both my and my extended family did not waste food. Much of the left overs were portioned out to every family to take home. My wonderful mummy whom I love so much! mother fabricated interesting and delicious ways to incorporate all LOs in a most creative, why-didn't-I-think-of-that? uses. For her culinary skills, she is awesome sauce. She is full of win!

Over the years, the entire what am I thankful for debacle has turned into cynicism for me. I've learnt that the educational system is not to be trusted in its accuracy to teach. That largely of what I've learnt in my years in the Dark Ages of grammar school, is now founded to be somewhat untrue. The inaccuracy of history and her lie-telling accomplices and the political slants revolving around, have left me almost completely disinterested in politics. I do not have faith in the judicial system. I do not trust those in power. My little voice will go unheard and unasked for for the rest of my days.

All I can do is be thankful for an incredibly healthy life. I'm also thankful for that I've become more patient and empathetic towards others. Someday, I would like to be able to say that I am most thankful to help those less fortunate than I.

After all, I am still a work of progress.