‘Tis the Season for Charitable Giving

The holidays tend to bring out the best in all of us.  Perhaps it is our small size or our sense of community, but the generosity of Rhode Islanders in helping out those they know and those they don’t is something we can be proud of. 

Thanksgiving memories

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate all we are thankful for and every year I am thankful for the memories of Thanksgiving itself.  Growing up, we would alternate our celebrations between Pawtucket and Wakefield with lifelong friends of my parents who also had four children.  Being the youngest of everyone, I was always relegated to the “kids’ table,” which is probably where I developed the habit of eating so quickly.  Regardless, the smell of fresh turkey with all the fixings, watching the Macy’s parade and football games and playing outside whether it was snowing or clear are all memories that seem as fresh as if  they just occurred yesterday.

I am sure these Thanksgiving memories are similar to many others.  Unfortunately today these memories are being replaced by commercialism, overload and a mad dash to be the first in line at midnight, sometimes earlier, at the local superstore to get deeply discounted prices on electronics and hot ticket items.  In some ways, gut-busting Thanksgiving meals have been replaced with door-busting midnight deals.  It seems there is a push to move people toward Christmas without actually celebrating Thanksgiving.