11-29-2024 4:20am

Thanksgiving Tradition Offers Family R&R

Lesley Misko Editor

Celebrating the people in her community and broadcasting their unique gifts inspires Jane Stahl in her assorted roles as a teacher during her 35-year career; Bear Fever’s Mamma Bear; Studio B Art Gallery’s Director of Community Relations; host of “B Inspired” podcast; co-editor of the digital newsletter The Boyertown Area Expression; and public relations writer and consultant with Stahl Marketing.

by Jane Stahl

Every family has traditions. Some are sacred involving rituals tied to beliefs held for generations. At this time of the year, some are fun-filled like leaving cookies and milk for Santa or 4:00 a.m. shop-till-you-drop bargain hunts on Black Friday.

Many traditions involve extended family and extra time and effort dedicated to maintaining the tradition itself. Decorating, baking, buying, hosting, and sending off annual missives are traditions our family has held over decades.

But, like many other families, Thanksgiving has been our favorite holiday. My husband says he likes it because it doesn’t involve gifting or decorating tasks—just food and conversation with family and friends at someone else’s home since the only cooking and preparation we are assigned is bringing potato filling to the table.

But what Thanksgiving Day and the weekend that followed really meant for me years ago when I was teaching was binge watching movies in my pajamas that began the night before the holiday.

After school on Wednesday afternoon, I’d stop at the video store. And because some of my favorite students worked there, they’d make sure to save the week’s new releases for me along with other titles they knew I’d like.

With an armful of videos—enough to last until the store opened again after the holiday, I chose the line-up and the marathon began pausing only a few hours to gather on the following day for the traditional turkey dinner.

The binge continued through the weekend. By the time the work week began, my brain was deliciously fried, my body totally relaxed and ready for the hectic weeks ahead when "visions of sugar plums" danced in my head and in those of the students in my classroom.

While I’m no longer in the work force, and the R&R that Thanksgiving provided me long ago is no longer a sacred tradition in my house, I am grateful for the memories that the Thanksgiving holiday provided our family. The holiday remains a favorite: friends will still find me binging movies in my beloved pajamas throughout the weekend, pausing only for leftover turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.