Tag: thanksgiving

thanks a lot

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving, a holiday that is a mixed bag of emotion for most people, particularly Indigenous folks. I won’t speak to that in great detail other than to say that I acknowledge their grievances against the Europeans that horned in on this land several hundred years ago, though I am grateful to be here, personally.

It’s also a hard time for families, and as someone who has chosen not to maintain contact with a sibling, I understand that from some people’s perspective I am part of the problem. I don’t hold it against anyone if they’re upset with me, and I hope they realize that my job as a parent and the head of my own household, is to stop the bullshit at my front door, and provide a safe environment to grow and rest. I’ve done that, and will continue to do so.

Maybe you get it.

Maybe you don’t get it – Maybe you are the ostracized one, frustrated with your family’s lack of empathy, or sympathy. Chances are pretty good that if you’re reading this, you’re ultimately doing okay, since accessing blogs takes a certain amount of privilege. Maybe you’ve had Thanksgiving dinner at the Herb Jamieson before, or perhaps you’re looking forward to a Big Mac Combo in a parking lot by yourself on this festive weekend.

I’ve done both. I promise you, it’s a temporary vocation.

One thing I can tell you is that I’m grateful for the shit-heeled experiences I’ve had – many of which I caused, some of which were done to me. I’ve been extended some of the greatest and most meaningful hospitality when my life was scraping the bottom.

I’m also grateful that I can provide this home to the people in it, and the people who visit it. I remember what it’s like to not have these things available to me. So, to the people who’ve reached out to me when I needed it more than they possibly could have known, I sincerely hope you are repaid 10x over.

And to those who I can help, I hope I do it justice.
I hope I don’t miss the opportunity.

… PS: If you can have thanksgiving without harming any animals out of some misplaced sense of tradition, or due to a social contract, please do.

the harvest

Thanksgiving has never really meant much to me.

I’ve never been big on turkey or ham – obviously less so now that my relationship with the animal kingdom is that of a respectful spectator. Maybe I was ungrateful, or maybe we just didn’t have enough extended family around when I was a kid, but the meaning behind Thanksgiving seemed a ironic to me since we were giving thanks to the creator for the harvest.

As a kid, this just meant summer was over, and that I wasn’t allowed to have any friends over – which didn’t matter much since they weren’t allowed to go outside and do anything either.

As a parent, it means even less.

As a descendant of European colonizers, it’s lost what little meaning it ever had.

As a vegan; however, I feel overjoyed to be part of an ecosystem that is self-sustaining despite the corporate greed that’s weaved it’s way into the fabric of our lives. I’m reminded that the earth owes us nothing, and that we owe it everything. I’m also reminded that you can put seeds in the ground, put water on them, and food comes out – which is more and more remarkable with each passing year.

The creator though – regardless of how you might think of your tumultuous religious upbringing or lack there of – is interesting. If we take the various spiritual texts at face value, and understand that nature (among other things) is a force much bigger and stronger than any of us; which is something that those of us who identify as addicts should be painfully aware of, we’ll also find written that we are made in the image of the creator. This means that we; too, are creators – artists, metal workers, musicians, carpenters, dancers, writers, gardeners, storytellers, – and if there is something I am grateful for in the midst of this socially contracted long weekend, it’s that I am both capable and affirmed in my efforts of creating, and positively affecting the lives of those in my community with my contributions.

So if that’s what we’re celebrating, then happy thanksgiving.

Training this week has been magical. Still riding my bike for transportation; which admittedly has cut into my running a bunch, and cross-training – but I feel the cycling-to-work season closing in around me. Truthfully I have a hard time just “going for a bike ride” without a set destination and a specific time I aim to arrive. Perhaps I’ll be able to change that about myself at some point but it’s just how I tend to treat that activity – except when I’m on a stationary bike, obviously.

Fall is certainly upon us and it’s a special time to be in the river valley. We spend as much time there as we possibly can, especially now that we’re headed into that part of the year where we’re at a deficit for sunlight and nature. This last couple of weeks certainly feels like we’re on borrowed time.

I just returned from a music conference earlier this week, so I’ve got a head full of ideas and the future is promising. That said – Conscious Pilgrim video production has obviously taken a bit of a turn, and will continue to be that way. I intend to post to YouTube periodically. My plan was to post a summer recap (talk about the half marathon, etc) but living in an old house with old appliances and driving an old vehicle have certainly sidelined me with some much-needed repair & maintenance of the aforementioned, and without putting too fine of a point on it, I’ve been a little too busy living life to post about it.

The blog will continue. I love to write – it feels effortless to me and therefor is not a hindrance. My video skills; however, are needed to generate content for Confusionaires at this time and I am anticipating a fairly busy 2023 with that band. I have an eternal appreciation for anyone who can maintain a Youtube Channel in any meaningful way.