I hope your turkey wasn’t undercooked. I hope you didn’t give anyone food poisoning. If you did, I hope it wasn’t too serious. I hope it wasn’t to someone you liked.
I hope your pie didn’t burn and I hope you had more than one slice.
I hoped you skipped over the green bean casserole and doubled up on the gravy.
I hope you didn’t have to do the dishes. If you had to do the dishes, I hope you blasted some groovy music while you did them (I’m fond of The Commitments Soundtrack to accompany dishwashing), and I hope you shook your booty like no one was looking.
I hope you had good wine. I hope you got just drunk enough not to stab anyone who had different political opinions, but not so drunk that you had a hangover the next day.
I hope your family was nice to you. If your family wasn’t nice, I hope you had good friends there to shield you. If you didn’t have your friends there to shield you, I hope you will consider hosting a Friendsgiving this weekend. You don’t need to include turkey, stuffing, potatoes, or pie. Just have the people you love and trust. Wear casual clothes. Don’t wear make-up. Laugh until your stomach hurts.
Let’s be real: 2016 sucks. ENOUGH WITH THE CREATIVE LEGENDS DYING. And now Mrs. Brady died, and she practically raised ALL of us. I hate you, 2016. You are America’s annus horribilis*, and we can’t wait until you go away.
It’s going to get better. We are going to stay focused. After we sleep off all the turkey tryptophan we are going to get up and move again. (If you are ready. If you aren’t quite ready, you keep wallowing. You’re still a rock star, you crazy bastard.)
Friends, I’m thankful for you. It’s cliché to say it now, but what else can I do? I’m grateful you stop by to say hello, I’m grateful you read my words, I’m grateful we’re in it together. Let’s keep going.
*On 24 November 1992 The Queen gave a speech at Guildhall to mark the 40th anniversary of her Accession. In it The Queen referred to recent events as part of an ‘annus horribilis’.
“There can be no doubt, of course, that criticism is good for people and institutions that are part of public life. No institution – City, Monarchy, whatever – should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don’t.
But we are all part of the same fabric of our national society and that scrutiny, by one part of another, can be just as effective if it is made with a touch of gentleness, good humour and understanding.”