It's ok to not have something...

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so I do not want to keep you from family and friends, but I did want to write something that hit me earlier...

Tomorrow many people will wake up and start their traditions, ovens on all day, houses filled with great smells, family and friends gathering together to spend time with each other. Some if your fortunate will be in St. Louis and get to watch live a football game tradition that has gone on since 1898, GO KIRKWOOD,  others will gather around televisions all day to watch the Cowboys and Lions each play their annual game.

What will happen at more homes than many will admit, is just as it time to get into the heart of cooking, realization will hit that something was forgotten. Years ago, everyone would laugh it up and joke later than evening about why there wasn't any gravy, or dessert that one year was Popsicle's from the freezer. That has all changed today though, almost every grocery store is now open on Thanksgiving. While that has provided a great relief and convenience to those who want gravy, we have overlooked what that really means.

To make sure you are not without gravy, someone else, in fact an entire team of people are going to be going without their Thanksgiving. They will miss out on the laughter and gathering, the hot prepared meals. Instead they will be standing around a place a business to ensure your Thanksgiving is perfect. Now, please understand, I do not write this because I am bitter about working, because in fact, I do not have to. But I have team members who do, this year I did not draw the short straw. But I have in the past.

I challenge anyone who forgot something this year, do not pick it up. Go without this year, create a funny story that will be told for years to come. Maybe then in the near future we can convince retailers that letting ALL of their employees spend time together with family and friends is really the perfect Thanksgiving. Life is short, and time is not unlimited. You are never guaranteed the next day, nor the next holiday. Everyone can benefit from a little more laughter, a little less work and lots of pumpkin pie.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.