America vs. CANADA ... thanksgiving style

As an american, an angry one at that, i'm not biased. in fact, any reason i can find to help america lose in all arguments, the better.

But with all honesty, CANADIAN thanksgiving has nothing on american thanksgiving. it's sad, but it's true and i must admit, i'm having a bit of trouble coming to terms with the process of getting rid of my notion of home.

At this very moment, i'm home alone... and i like it. i'm home alone because i thought of any excuse possible to get myself out of a prolonged stay at my partner's boss' thanksgiving dinner. and though i do believe it was quite kind and gracious of them to invite us in the first place, i couldn't help but hate it.

Of course the food was great, the company was fantastic, and there was a usual abundance of good alcohol (which is usually involved where all CANADIANS are involved), it still wasn't the same... so here's where it differs:

In the states, on thanksgiving, the entire country seemed to shut down--all of the little capitalists stopped in their tracks to pause and recognize that in the end, no matter what, family comes first. even the most dysfunctional of us managed to celebrate our families. no matter where you were: your college boyfriend's home, a friend's home, your in-law's stuffy guest room--you could always count on a football game to make you feel you were at home. The similar foods, the similar traditions kept you connected. and after you finished eating, thanks to the graciousness of another, you were never expected to do anything yet you did anyway because you knew everyone else would pitch in, making the job quite insignificant in the end.

Thanksgiving is the most treasured american holiday because deep down inside americans really do think family is most important, even though we've never collectively acted that way.

It's not that CANADIANS have got it wrong, because for all i know they could simply prioritize family more so on the regular, therefore making the idea thanksgiving more commonplace. Irregardless, it still doesn't have the same effect for me.

It could be because i'm cynical these days (and angry at times)--which shouldn't surprise anyone when in comes to my thoughts pertaining the great super-power nation down south.

Yet something tells me it could also be because i'm lacking in the family department these days. thanksgiving simply isn't the same without your mom and siblings!

(photograph taken by me, my parents backyard)