Every Thanksgiving, I like to go back and read this piece in the USA Today, written by my colleague and friend, Steve Gimbel. Satirically pointing out that the notion of pausing our lives to reflect, in gratitude, on what we have runs counter to the American doctrine of 'more,' 'more,' 'more,' Gimbel argues that the real holiday is the day after Thanksgiving. For it is on this day that the holiday shopping season begins, when the real American spirit is celebrated. But in place of the ominously titled 'Black Friday,' Gimbel proposes the holiday title, 'Thanksgetting,' to commemorate and anticipate the obligatory 'thank you' we mindlessly utter as we're opening our umpteenth gift from the umpteenth relative we haven't seen since the last holiday season. It's interesting to note that, since the time that Gimbel wrote this piece, (four years ago), 'Black Friday' has encroached more and more upon the Thanksgiving holiday. Time was, you'd go out to the stores at 2 or 3 in the morning, to line up for the openings of the doors. Nowadays, 'Black Friday' sales begin mid-evening on Thanksgiving itself. It seems that America has begun taking Gimbel's advice, cutting larger and larger chunks out of the day of thanks. It's a good thing, too. I mean, come on... do we really need a whole day to be grateful?
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