So now that it's official, Happy Thanksgiving Eve!
You may be wondering why I am awake and rambling at this ungodly hour; it's because I've been working on the next post in the "Real Grrrl Power: Women in Solidarity" series. As you know, it's in response to the issue Rebecca has raised in her last few posts, namely; female rivalry and conflict. I hope to continue the discourse (please see my post from 11/23/10 for Part I), and yes, I am taking it very, very seriously. My goal is to have it finished and posted after Thanksgiving weekend.
As I contemplate having to be up and ready for work in about 4 hours, my thoughts turn to what's on my metaphorical plate for after the work day ends: lots of Thanksgiving cooking and baking. Since I've been working on my next blog entry for the past several hours I've got True Blood on the brain, so naturally my mind drifts to thoughts like, "wouldn't it be great to be able to put on a fabulous holiday dinner à la the consummate host, our dearly departed Talbot"?
I miss Talbot because, for one thing, he made sure to serve "cruelty free" meals at his table. Remember how he introduced each course at the lavish feast organized for Russell and the captive Bill, pointing out that all of the dishes were prepared using blood from willing donors?
What's that you say? Blood - cruelty free or not - isn't on your Thanksgiving menu? That's OK, the principles of ethical eating and conscious cooking can be anyway - and this is relevant since part of our feminist frame involves thinking about how our actions effect the web of life.
Everyone who's close to me knows that although I am a committed vegetarian, I am not an evangelist for the cause. I do however promote using one's own set of values and conscience to make thoughtful, informed decisions about how what they include on their plate and how it is prepared impacts the larger scheme of things. I am also a fan of choices.
Here's one choice my Mom and I (who's also vegetarian) made for this Thanksgiving; since we don't eat turkey; we decided to join in the Turkey Day festivities by "adopting" one:
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| click here for more info. on the Farm Sanctuary's programs in New York and California that help abused and neglected farm animals across the country - ranging from the Celebration FOR Turkeys in which these intelligent and fun-loving birds get to stuff themselves with cranberry, pumpkin pie & butternut squash (yum!) to advocacy and educational campaigns and ongoing care for cows, pigs, ducks, goats, and more!
This is something everyone can appreciate and participate in, including the meat-eaters in my family, and maybe yours; it's one small but concrete way to make a difference by spreading compassion to the non-human beings in our world (our sanguivore friends would approve of that, too) and I'm sure you can think of others.
Yes, we are a "mixed family"; veggies and omnivores alike gather around our table each holiday and everyday, and there are many ways in which we're all trying to be more conscious about what we eat - for our own health and for the health of the planet - several of which Rebecca and our Mom have employed in their Thanksgiving shopping and food preparation (i.e. a reliable source told me that instead of wasting the [organic, free-range] egg whites that weren't needed in a recipe, they made facial masks with them and took a relaxation break together - nifty and thrifty if I do say so myself!)
We'd love to hear some of the ideas you've got for ethical and sustainable living.
So, maybe you can't put out an elaborate spread like Talbot's, but you CAN find reasons to be thankful and ways to share thankfulness this Thanksgiving after all.
From both of us here at the Pierced Pomegranate Tavern, Enjoy the Holiday!
~ Rachel
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