Happy Thanksgiving 2024

The fourth Thursday of November marks Thanksgiving in the US – a day to reflect and to express gratitude for our many blessings in life. 

November was an eventful, yet chaotic month filled with mixed emotions. In the same week as the U.S. Presidential election, one friend welcomed her baby boy, whilst another friend had a horrific ring avulsion accident. There was also Remembrance Day and what would have been my MiL’s 77th birthday. Of course, the Fourth Thursday of November marks a significant US holiday: Thanksgiving.

Giving Back for Thanksgiving 

Thanksgiving is a time to gather together with dear friends and family for a day of gratitude and giving back to the community. On that note, the week prior to Thanksgiving I spent my corporate volunteering day at a local soup kitchen. 

Organised in partnership with the local authority, FoodCycle aims to reduce food waste by using surplus food donated by supermarkets to create free vegetarian meals. With one volunteer down, the four of us worked diligently in the kitchen of a local community centre. The five-hour marathon included prepping, cooking, serving, and washing and cleaning up. Together, the kitchen team whipped up a free three-course meal based on provisions donated for 50 guests, mostly pensioners. On the menu: sweet potato and carrot soup with crusty bread; pasta with homemade roasted tomato sauce; and fruit salad with yogurt.  It was truly a rewarding experience giving back to the community. If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, I highly recommend FoodCycle especially if you are an avid cook like myself. 

Thanksgiving Meal

In all of our time in London, we have always hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our home. Last Thanksgiving was especially memorable with Kenz’ best friend in town with his family. But this year was more subdued due to various reasons, including a family bereavement. We had a quiet family dinner on Thanksgiving Day, watched some American football, and then called our families in California. In keeping with tradition, I made lots of pumpkin pecan pies for dear friends and neighbors to show my gratitude for their friendship and kindness. In the midst of day-to-day chaos, let’s not forget to count life’s many blessings. 

From my family to yours, we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.