Now is the time of year that we Americans stop and feast in remembrance of a myth: that a group of immigrants from England ate with the native people living in the area of the Plymouth Colony, thanking them for showing them how to survive and thrive with the crops of their New World. It is a beautiful story (which may or may not be based on a harvest festival) but is likely a myth nonetheless that we have propagated. The so-called Pilgrims didn’t wear buckles and all black, and were introduced by school observances of the holiday. The so-called Indians didn’t look like they came from the Great Plains. We all know that the greater narrative ultimately had an unhappy ending for many, both immigrant and native (though mostly native) but, as some have noted, the secret of a happy ending is knowing where to stop the story. Besides, nothing ever ends. Maybe we’ll learn some lessons from all this. I hope they’re the right ones.
There will not be a Friday entry because, well, Turkey Day approaches. Regardless of which side of the story you’re on (or even whether you’re in it or not), I hope you have a good time with the people you care about, no matter where you are, what you’re doing, or who you’re doing it with. May you have all the food your dietary restrictions allow. May you have all the warmth of a safe and friendly hearth. And, if you can find time for it when you snap out of your food-induced napping, may your caching be fun!
I’ll see you all on Monday!
Geocaching While Black 