Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving 2020

Happy Thanksgiving 2020!

There, I said it. With all that we’ve all been through, I’m thankful to be here …to still give thanks. 

Thankful for family. 

Thankful for friends.

Thankful for clients.

Thankful for my business.

Thankful for Essential Workers.

Thankful for Zoom.

Thankful for Networking Partners.

Thankful for sports.

Thankful for Netflix.

Thankful for social media, Audible, podcasts, and everything else that reminded us that there were other people still living and breathing on the planet.

I could go on, but you get it. The pandemic ended the old world as we knew it and forced us to make massive changes.  And we’re doing it. Wearing masks. Staying home. Staying socially distant. 

What’s your Thanksgiving Tradition? My family usually comes in from North Carolina a few days before the holiday. They bring cakes and pies that can’t be found in New York.  The eating starts on Tuesday and doesn’t stop until all the leftovers are gone. We usually host thirty to forty people at my house. Some family. Some friends that have become family over the years. What’s normally on the menu? Everything that you would find at any African American household – Turkey, Ham, Yams, Mac & Cheese, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Cornbread, Baked Ziti, Collard Greens, Yellow Rice, Sweet Potato Pie…and more.

Did I mention that my Allstate Agency is located in Middle Village, New York? Anyway, Queens County is the most ethnically diverse county in America. Over one hundred languages are spoken and people come from every country in the world. One of the advantages of being an Allstate Insurance Agent is that my clients share their Thanksgiving traditions with me! I can literally taste all the wonderful food that has been described to me. My office has hosted Thanksgiving for our neighboring businesses since 2017. We’ve usually order a nice spread from Di Marco’s and had a great Italian style Thanksgiving lunch. As a member of the Glendale Kiwanis club, I’ve also had incredible Thanksgiving celebrations at Zum Stammtisch, a local German restaurant in Glendale – wow!

Thanksgiving 2020 won’t allow us to adhere too many of our traditions. Family gatherings and business lunches with more than ten people will be labelled as “Super Spreader” events.  I get it. I will obey the law. I will follow New York State guidelines. And, I will scroll through my phone and enjoy the photos from the past. I’ll be reminded that I took great advantage of gathering with people when it was safe to do so. I’ll anxiously look forward to 2021 or 2022 or to whenever it’s safe for us to do it again.

Two weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of participating in a Turkey Giveaway event. My good friend, Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, the famous actor currently featured on NCIS New Orleans and Fear of The Walking Dead, called and asked if we could giveaway 500 turkeys in our hometown, Wyandanch, NY.  I reached out to a few organizations, SpinTheYard, COTA and Minority Millenials and together, we made Thanksgiving possible for many people who were hit extra hard by the pandemic. Putting smiles on that many faces and relieving any anxiety they felt, made my day. That’s the “giving” part of the compound word, “thanks-giving.”  That’s the part that I’ll be sure to include in my future thanks giving tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving 2020!

Kevin