It might sound campy to do this on a hockey blog, but it’s my blog, and I get to write what I want, so, a word ahead of the Wednesday before American Thanksgiving:
I headed out to Walgreens, Busch’s and Kroger on Tuesday afternoon to pick up a prescription for the aunt, pick up our pre-prepared Thanksgiving dinner, and then do a big grocery shopping run on Tuesday afternoon.
I learned very quickly what all of us have to pack this year when we venture out into the gaping maw of pre-holiday crowds: a lot of patience, some consideration for the understaffed retail workers who are being overworked, and a little bit of kindness for self and others.
It’s going to be a little crazy over the next couple of weeks as there seems to be a real pent-up demand to get out and about among the world again, lingering pandemic or no lingering pandemic, so the crowds will be bigger and more dense, and the retail staff will be smaller, so the wait will be longer (sometimes for less stuff on the shelf).
Anyway, the other thought I have this morning as I stand on my little soapbox is that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the biggest “bar night” of the year.
The only places shittier to visit on the night before Thanksgiving than a sad dive bar (been there, don’t ask) or the push-and-shove of a closing supermarket (which can be a wild scene) are an ER or a police office, so please be safe out there. Plan ahead to have a designated driver, call an Uber, call a cab (they still exist here in Southeastern Michigan), do whatever you need to get home safe.
I know that after two years of pandemic fun, we all want to get out of the house and really let loose, but in this modern world, we all need to take precautions…
And my arm is sore from my booster on Monday, and that’s all I’m going to say about that part of being a good citizen.
Anyway, I wish you a safe and happy American Thanksgiving. Here’s hoping that the Wings get back to .500 for our all our sakes this evening.
Getting through the holiday itself is another missive entirely, of course, but we all have our crazy uncles and aunts. And nephews and nieces, as my aunt would suggest. 😉
Be safe! Be kind! And happy Thanksgiving!
