Thanksgiving ratings, children will listen!

 Dear you,

Inspired by (stealing) something John Green did in his Anthropocene:  Reviewed, my Thanksgiving thoughts feature the star rating schemata.  I am only sharing the best and the worst, the five stars and the one standout zero star.  Here we go:

Tiptoe the Reindeer – The sweet gal was featured in this year’s Macy’s Day Parade.  Absolutely precious; made me think about Bambi and other little critters trying to get their legs and bearings in our mean old world.  Even if Tiptoe is synthetic, she ruled the parade, vanquishing creepy high-flyers like Ronald McDonald and Pillsbury Doughboy.  They're troubling. She's adorable. I give Tiptoe a misty-eyed 5 stars.

The NFL on Thanksgiving Day – I don’t even remember who played, I just know it was great to have professional football on the screen, a far better option than Hallmark channel’s sanitary Christmas movies and other “family fare”.  I do recall the contests were fun to watch and no one got hurt.  The boys of autumn entertained and diverted with excellence as I sipped multiple cocktails. I give the T-day pro-football shows a tipsy 5 stars.

Chinese food for Thanksgiving dinner – Why turkey and dressing? Nothing wrong with the traditional meal, but what I really love is Asian food, any kind. My favorite restaurant gifted me with lo mein, eggrolls, and fried rice.  Microwavable for warm-ups and delicious, Asian cuisine should be the new feast for the 21^st Century special occasion table.  Reject the norm and eat what you crave!  I give Chinese Food on holidays an energized, fueled but not full 5 stars.

The Unknown Visiting Family Across the Landing – Even though high-season is technically over, holidays are still busy in the condo complex. I was prepared for the worse and awaited the invasion. The folks under my feet arrived, totally civilized.  Check.  Next, a small white car pulled up and mom, pop, and child exited, entering the unit across the landing without drama.  Too good to be true?  Perhaps.  Shortly after, a big minivan (oxymoron) pulled up and a huge clan (men, women, children, infants in arms) poured out in clown-car fashion.  Oh, good lord.  However, to my surprise, their move-in was drama-free too.  During their stay, they were out and about a lot and when here, they kept the kiddies under control.  No door slamming.  No tantrums.  No blasting music. No stinky cooking smells.  No garbage bags outside their door.  Wow.  I give this chill extended family an appreciative, well-rested 5 stars.

Music – Two geniuses were with me this week, Ludwig van Beethoven and Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim died a few days ago.  Ludwig has been gone a while.  Both dead.  But not. Their magic remains. During a particularly stress-ball day, I played (for the millionth time in my life) Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, his Symphony No. 9.   You hear it, don’t you?  A classic for a reason, the lilt, and yes, the joy! This was Beethoven’s last symphony and the only one with singing.  Lyrics and music sublime.  Then I got the news about Sondheim. The great composer-lyricist, gone.  His melodies and words go through my head all the time. Sometimes I get the notes and lyrics wrong, but they’re there in my jukebox of a brain.  I hear bits of “Children Will Listen”:  Guide them along the way/Children will glisten/Children will look to you for which way to turn/ To learn what to be/Careful before you say, listen to me/Children will listen. 

Yes, they will.  Masters Beethoven and Sondheim, I humbly offer you a grateful 5 stars.  (I can’t believe I made these gentlemen share list space with a plastic reindeer and spicy noodles, but my intentions were good.)

Now, on to that final item, the zero-star rating: 

Twisted Celebrations – See Kyle, the guest of honor at a Florida diner.  People gathered to celebrate his “innocence”.  What did they say to this kid during the meal?  What was said to him before he committed murder? Who was Kyle listening to?  Who is he listening to now?  Sondheim said it, children will listen.  Kyle was listening. Not glistening. This picture, this celebration, makes me incredibly sad.  I give it (greasy laminate menus and white nationalist chit-chat included) absolutely 0 stars.

End.

Thank you Tiptoe, thank you NFL, thank you New Jin Jin, thank you Beethoven and Sondheim. 

And thank you, John Green. 

XO

Joyce