Finding meaning during a pandemic holiday

The calendar told me it’s time. Time to go get the turkey butter.

I have shared this delight before.

The thing that sets off my first holiday squeal.

The first week of November, the appearance on my local grocery store shelf of delicious butter that’s been molded in the shape of a turkey.

Go ahead. Google it. Keller’s Creamery turkey butter.

I get not a dime from this company.

Only delight.

I have to admit, though, that this year, this pandemic, no big crowd gathering year, I had a moment of “What’s the point?”

Thanksgiving will be the four of us.

I mean, I guess it will.

For two years, my best friend in California and I planned that 2020 would be the year our families would gather for Thanksgiving. When we realized that wouldn’t be happening I stopped thinking of any other plans.

Will I even fix a huge meal? Borrowing from the old “If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one to hear it, does it make a sound?”

Are the holidays the holidays if you can’t gather?

What if you can’t go back for seconds and fourths?

What if you can’t argue with Uncle Bob about the election results?

Are you having the same “What’s the point?” conversation in your head Dear Reader? Or,

Or,

Is this stripping down, bare bones version of the holidays exactly what we need?

One simple word has changed my attitude.

You can take the loosened belt out of Thursday the 26th, but I see no reason to take the “Thanks” out of Thanksgiving.

If ever there was a year to take stock.

Of what we do have.

Of who we do have.

Surely, this is it.

This has me revved up. Grateful for gratitude. Suddenly, all sorts of things are possible.

Maybe I’ll pull together a Zoom Thanksgiving with my brother and sister’s families.

We are spread across the country and haven’t all been together in at least 15 years for Thanksgiving.

And follow with my best friend’s family.

How are you getting creative this year?

What are you thankful for?

I’d love to hear all of it.

Right now, though, I’m heading out.

If you’re in the dairy aisle of the one store in town that carries turkey butter, heads up.

I’m on my way.

I don’t play when it comes to loading up my cart.

If a tree falls in the forest on Thanksgiving and there is no turkey butter on the table, is it really Thanksgiving?

There you have it.

First thing on my gratitude list.

I’m so glad I won’t have to find out.

What a year.

What a holiday.

What a point.

Daryn Kagan is the author of the book “Hope Possible: A Network News Anchor’s Thoughts On Losing Her Job, Finding Love, A New Career, And My Dog, Always My Dog.” Email her at Daryn@ darynkagan.com.