Happy Thanksgiving eve to all of you! I am hosting our family Thanksgiving again this year, and several members are traveling back to Salisbury as I write this, so if you are traveling today, I hope it is going smoothly.
In addition to Thanksgiving, this coming week has several important events:
- National Native American Heritage Day on Friday November 25– the story of Thanksgiving is intertwined with native history, some of which needs a refresh. Check out NWCT Arts Council’s Whose Land Do we Live on?, or consider a visit the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, CT.
- Small Business Saturday on 11/26: at a time of high transportation costs and global supply chain interruptions, local businesses are more important than ever. Every town in the district has locally owned and run shops that can serve just about any need, lots of suggestions below.
- Giving Tuesday on 11/29– the nonprofits in our area do heroic work to heal, inspire, and care for those who need it. We’ve had a close look at need in the recent past, and inflation is hitting vulnerable families particularly hard. It’s important to take care of one another, so I hope you’ll join me in supporting our nonprofits.
And, on Monday, November 28, the CT General Assembly will be convening a special session to address high fuel and energy costs, and premium pay for essential workers. Among the topics on the agenda are: extending the $0.25 gas tax holiday through December 31, 2022 (and instituting a gradual phase in from January through May 2023); extension of free bus service through March 31, 2023; an increase in funding for premium pay to pandemic essential workers; and additional funding for energy assistance provided through the LIHEAP program and to Operation Fuel.
After several atypical Thanksgivings for our family (and a lot of families), we are returning to the normal routines this year. We hauled out all of the gravy-spattered recipes from past years over the weekend, and added a couple of new ones. As the next generation in our family spreads its wings, we are feeling the tug of new people and obligations in their lives. One of my daughters is overseas studying and won’t be able to return home, various work and school obligations will restrict the time we all have together, and one of my brothers now has a grandchild on the West Coast, so we will have to settle for a Zoom call to see them. In the final round of phone calls before travel, we talk about boosters, flu shots, and COVID tests in order to make sure we are keeping each other safe and healthy.
I hope you have the opportunity to gather with friends near or far this week to give thanks for the many blessings received throughout the year. I hope your holiday is filled with peace, health, laughter, and gratitude – and if you are traveling, a safe journey.
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