We aren’t historians at South Boston Online, but as far as we know, Thanksgiving is a uniquely American Holiday.  Other countries have followed our example – Canada celebrated their Thanksgiving on October 9 this year, for example – but we believe we were the first country to establish such a day.

     So, for Thanksgiving Day itself we are thankful.  Little did the Pilgrim leaders, Elder Brewster and William Bradford, realize what they would set in motion when they declared “a day of thanks” after the 1621 harvest.

     It’s entirely fitting that enterprises be thankful for what they have. At South Boston Online, we are thankful for our suppliers and staff – we couldn’t exist without them.  We are very thankful for our advertisers and patrons – we certainly wouldn’t exist without them.  And most of all, we are grateful to our loyal and growing readership – without them, we would have no reason to exist.  

     To prepare for the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims sent out a detachment of four men, who shot a week’s supply of “fowl”, which may or may not have included wild turkey.  The only other thing we are sure they ate during their week-long feast was venison brought by their Indian guests – Massasoit and his Wampanoags.  No pies (the sugar was gone), no cranberry sauce (the Indians considered cranberries to be medicine), no potatoes (they weren’t grown here yet.), no vegetables (unless they had been dried and stored).

     So we’ll offer a large “thank you” for the incredible bounty that will be on our tables this Thanksgiving, 385 years later.  Fresh, varied, colorful, and supremely good tasting.

     We are thankful that we had a peaceful election.  Free, secret elections are still a miracle not shared by much of the world.  In 2006, we registered our approval of certain candidates.  The rest of them we sent home to find other jobs, as we have for more than 200 years.  Once again, American citizens spoke, and you had better believe that our elected officials heard us.  And we get to do it all over again just two years from now.

     We are thankful for our officials.  Two names in particular come to mind:  Jim Kelly, who seems to making rapid gains in overcoming cancer, and Anthony Gilardi, who has graced the South Boston scene for the last ten years.  There will be an unforgettable farewell party for Anthony at the Seaport Bar & Grille (150 Northern Avenue) on Thursday evening, December 7, starting at 5 p.m.

     How can we be thankful enough for veterans and those men and women who are on active duty?  Well, it may be impossible to thank them enough, but we can certainly let them know how we feel.  Stay in touch with them.  Tell them you appreciate them.

     Barbara Caputo Kelly is thankful for her new computer.  She intends to use it to make a topnotch newspaper even more efficient (that’s a plug!).

     Rick Winterson is thankful just to be here – and to get to write so many South Boston stories.  According to him, “There really is a Camelot.”

     Moe Keane is thankful for the Pats’ win – “cream cheese”, as they say – along with upset losses by Indianapolis and Denver.  Overall, Boston had a great sports weekend last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but even so, Moe is most thankful for health, family, and wonderful friends.

     Our grand old man, Kevin Devlin, is grateful for two communities – Savin Hill, where he grew up, and South Boston, where he now lives.  And he’s thankful that both are in America, the greatest country in the world.  He’s also thankful for his wife, Mary, as well as his daughters, Alanna and Deirdre, and his sons, Kevin and Sean.