Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!



MP3 File

Thanksgiving truly is the most American of holidays. This is just a stock photo. It's not my table and not yours, but it's a safe bet that each and every one of us will be sitting down to a table loaded with pretty much the same things you see here. There are individual variations, for sure (wouldn't be America without them!), but the menu for all of us is pretty much the same.

The menu also includes family and its dynamics. There are usually reasons we don't see some of these people more often...as a good friend of mine says, "you can choose your friends, but you're stuck with your family." I know we'll all enjoy ourselves, if not entirely during the get-together, then by all means telling stories about it afterwards. I love the grand messiness of these human encounters.

Today's music is a personal favorite, and I'm grateful for this seasonal opportunity to share it. It's the traditional Christian benediction, "The Lord Bless You And Keep You," put to music by Peter Lutkin. I've known it since high school, when it was a favorite of my singing group. Our repertoire was mostly madrigals, but during any get together we were sure to sing this because it's so pretty, and those soaring "amens" at the end are so much fun.

I'll probably be silent for the next few days, which means there should be plenty to talk about on Monday. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the holiday, Ralph. All the blessing of good health and happiness to you, your family, and your friends!
- J.

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Ralph. I have found there is plenty to be thankful for, the economy aside, it is good to share the feast with family and friends. You and Steve have fun.

Kat said...

Ralph and Steve,
Gave a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'll miss you this year!

nan said...

Happy Thanksgiving!
and remember, not all the turkeys are in the oven! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving Ralph & Steve!

Enjoy the gathering - the good food and celebration.

Jumping back to Chicago's - Hard Habit to Break - was that Michael McDonald - started to research but...

Ralph said...

That does sound like Michael McDonald, doesn't it, Linda? I don't think so, though--at least I can't find any reference to him ever performing with Chicago.....

Mim said...

Good song for the day!
Love it.
And yes family dynamics along with the turkey.
Mim