Thanksgiving at last!  Thanksgiving day is the least commercialized of all our national celebrations.  The day of “feasting” goes back to the mythic founding of the nation.  The Pilgrims arrived and founded Plymouth colony in Massachusetts.  A deal was made with the Wampanoag tribe of indigenous people.  Indians indigenous to America had lived here for 12,000 years according to their traditions. The chief was desperate for English help with an epidemic and aid in fending off Narragansett rebels.  Consequent to a deteriorating relationship, the alliance ended in King Philips war and a massacre of the Indians.  The Wampanoag were survivors. They’ve adapted over the years.  They are still here.

And we Americans are still here, somehow.  The “somehow” is my silent, enduring existential protest against the ersatz-spiritual, rigid, rule-based mindset of my English protestant ancestors. As they misunderstood, regarding with suspicion the ways of indigenous people, there remains an under current of distrust of anyone who does not neatly fit the norms of our White Caucasian ruling class. 

Forgive me.  I allow my disquiet to surface on this day which most of us dedicate to mellow sentiments of good will and bonhomie.  When do we eat?  Oh, I hear that turkey will be served around 2:30.  I look forward to the companionship of family members around the table, the youngest being just under a year old and the oldest is myself at seventy one years.  We plan to continue the tradition of poetry reading.  Each of us will read a poem, to the best of our ability.

For additional detail on the myth of Thanksgiving check out the SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE website.

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Friend, this is my pick for a tune to light our way in the life, the hand that each has been dealt.  As always, one plays the hand that one has been dealt…

I realize that you will ask yourself what could the lyricist mean by “That Old Sweet Roll?”  My guess, — that is reference to a joint of marijuana.

David Clayton Thomas, the vocalist for BS&T has some pipes, doesn’t he !?

Hi-De-Ho
By Blood, Sweat & Tears

Hi De Ho
Hi De Hi
Gonna Get me
A piece of the sky
Gonna get me
Some of that Old Sweet Roll
Singin’ Hi de hi de hi de hi de Hooooo

I’ve been down so low
Bottom looked like up
Once I thought that seconds saves
Was enough to fill my cup
So I proffered all I got
But it ain’t no way to live
Being taken by the ones who got
The least amount to give

Hi de ho
Hi de hi
Gonna get me a piece of the sky
Gonna get me some of that old sweet roll
Singing hi de hi de hi de hi de hooooo.

Once I met the devil
He was mighty slick
Tempted me with worldly goods
Said -you can have your pick-
But when he laid that paper on me
And he showed me where to sign
I said thank you very kindly
But I’m in too great a need of mine

Hi de ho
Hi de hi
Gonna get me a piece of the sky
Gonna get me some of that old sweet roll
Singin’ hi de hi de hi de hi de hooooo.
Hi de ho
Hi de hi
Gonna get me a piece of the sky
Gonna get me some of that old sweet roll
Singin’ hi de hi de hi de hi de hoooo

Lyrics written by Gerry Goffin & Carole King