Opinion: Planning for Thanxgiving

The elections are over for another cycle, and I will not miss the campaign advertisements clogging up the television airwaves. Some of the attack ads got pretty ugly. Negative advertising is a calculated risk on the part of the candidates. That is why these ads are usually attributed to some political action committee rather than the candidates themselves. It is hard to believe those running for office are unaware of the contents of these TV mini-dramas.

After celebrating the all-important Veterans Day, it is time to make plans for Thanxgiving. While the legend of the first Thanxgiving has been told and retold, the truth of it, told from the Native American point of view, is less charming.

My husband and his parents were full-blooded Native Americans. A branch of the Mono and Chukchansi tribes. Sadly, not enough to benefit from any casino money. During the years I knew them, they weren’t part of an Indian community. Fred felt the politically correct “Native American” moniker was just another silly example of white man’s guilt.

Fred’s nickname with his motorcycle club was Indian. Our colors, the sleeveless denim jackets we wore, his has a name tag that reads “Indian.” The vest I wore had the words “Property of Indian” on it.

The feminist in me was horrified by the thought of being the property of anyone. My first biker rally, May Day in Los Banos, showed me the wisdom of it.

I find it amusing that while cowboys and bikers are sworn enemies, having run with both crowds, they are near identical in their mindset.

There were times when his father would refer to me as the white girl. I suppose I should have been offended, but I’m not. I never was insulted. In the mid-1970s when Fred and I started going together, political correctness had yet to take hold with its firm iron grasp.

My father-in-law wasn’t a racist, he was just a very tired old man who had been injured in the war. He walked with a cane and self-medicated with beer. He was constantly wracked with pain. A pain that at 20 I could not begin to imagine. Pain makes one very tired and cranky.

They were quiet, reserved people and it took us a while to get used to each other. After almost four years together we were married.

The day after Thanxgiving we would have been married for 43 years. Fred’s birthday is also in November. Fall used to be my favorite season, but this year, not so much.

After Halloween, Thanxgiving seems to get lost as everyone is in a rush to prepare for Xmas.

As Americans, we have so very much to be grateful for. We live in a beautiful democratic republic.

There are problems. But, many problems could be solved with an infusion of cash.

I would propose a five-year moratorium on foreign aid with that money used for important programs in America.

No American veteran should ever be homeless. We owe a debt to these men and women. An obligation they have earned with their blood, sweat and tears to be a clique.

Our borders need to be strengthened with the immigration policies refined.

Nothing can be done about population control but it intrigues me that so many aspects of our lives are controlled with licensing policies and yet the most important job, raising a child, is allowed to be accomplished by amateurs.

Is that a horrified gasp I hear in the background? Probably so. Too few people are willing to voice their opinions on the matter.

But there it is. My opinion and an Abraham Lincoln can buy you a cup of overpriced coffee.

I hope people will put their Xmas plans on hold and focus on Thanxgiving. Love your families as they gather. Look around the table, no one knows how many of these faces won’t be there next year.

I know it is a grave error to spell Thanxgiving and Xmas as I have. But, I do love the letter “X!” Not everyone gets to have such a forceful letter in their name.

Long days and pleasant nights. Have a blessed weekend.

• • •

Readers may contact Tami Jo Nix by emailing tamijonix@gmail.com or following @TamiJoNix on Twitter.