By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The grocery stores and supermarkets were abuzz last weekend with shoppers filling their carts to the rims with Butterball turkeys, cans of cranberries, pumpkin pie filling, bags of red, white, and sweet potatoes, onions, stalks of celery, stuffing mixes, butter, and all the other ingredients that go into orchestrating that perfect Thanksgiving meal. Youíd swear it was Christmas time the way the parking lots at the "box stores," super markets, and most area downtowns were filled with cars and shoppers.

Next to Christmas, people spend more money preparing for the day the Pilgrims established nearly 400 years ago when they sat down with their Native American friends and gave thanks for surviving that first nasty winter in Massachusetts, and a bountiful harvest the following summer, than any other holiday.

But like Christmas, it seems as we are continuing to lose the real meaning of Thanksgiving. We seem to be so caught up in creating the most lavish dining extravaganza, with a half dozen different salads, numerous cooked vegetables (besides mashed potatoes) a veggie tray with green and black olives, carrots, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower for dipping, crescent rolls, lefse (for those of Scandinavian persuasion), at least two kinds of dressings, gravy, and of course, a massive turkey large enough to feed a family of boat people for a week. And then thereís dessert, usually consisting of three different types of pies (pumpkin and apple for sure) with ice cream or fresh whipped cream on top.

I used to look so forward to the Thanksgiving feast at my parentsí home every year. Dad was in charge of the turkey, and would begin the preparation Wednesday night. Heís usually put the turkey in the oven around 5 a.m., and my sisters and I would awake to the pleasant aroma of turkey cooking away in the oven around 8 a.m. Weíd spend the rest of the morning helping set the table, cutting up the veggies, and wiping the drool from our chins, as the fragrance of the huge Butterball filled with onion, celery, giblets, bread, and whatever else Dad used to make his stuffing, permeated the Warner house. I think Iíve got a little drool running down the side of my mouth as I pen this column!!!

Preparing a wonderful Thanksgiving feast certainly isnít wrong. I love my parents dearly and thank them from the bottom of my heart (and stomach) for all the wonderful Thanksgiving meals I have enjoyed at their home. My wife and I have gotten caught up in the Thanksgiving tradition at our home too. But is the true meaning of Thanksgiving the lavish feast we spend copious amounts of money and time preparing? And then once weíve consumed as much as humanly possible, we hunker down in front of the TV and watch football until we fall asleep?

I was thinking about this Monday morning during my 30 minute commute and listening to the news accounts of those unfortunate people in Bangladesh, where at least 2,500 persons were confirmed dead due to a devastating storm that ravaged the coastal regions of the country. According to the Associated Press, the death toll is predicted to climb to at least 10,000 once rescuers reach islands off the coast of the low-lying river delta nation.

Yes, we had some terrible flooding, which caused seven deaths, ruined countless homes and businesses, and caused over $60 million in damage in Southeastern Minnesota this past summer. But when one contrasts that to what is happening to unfortunate souls around the world, due to natural disasters, wars, and famine, we do have very much to be thankful for.

And we must remember our brave men and women serving our country, away from their loved ones, many in harmís way. We need to pray for their safety every day, and on Thanksgiving, we need to give special thanks to them.

Iíd like to wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving and hopefully my column will help remind us all what the true meaning of Thanksgiving is. We Americans are so lucky to have been born in this country. As the old saying goes, "There, if not for the grace of God, go I."

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