November

The summer heat is gladly forgotten as chilly breezes encircle our shoulders like the embrace of friends we have missed. Brilliant sunsets streak across the sky and paint glorious backdrops for golden maples and scarlet oaks. It is time to dig into crisp apples, pull out folded sweaters and enjoy the beautiful glow of a […]

Thanksgiving traditions have remained deliciously unchanged over the years.   Family and friends gather around the table, share a bountiful meal and bask in a holiday glow.   We give thanks for the food on our plates, roofs over our heads and festive spirits that bring us together. What about all the secret things we […]

Turkey, stuffing, sweet potato soufflé, and some kind of cranberry concoction. Family and friends gathered round the table, it is a time to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.   Well, that and football. Actually, forget the overcooked bird, Thanksgiving is all about football. No one […]

We take it for granted every day.   We commute to work, drive across town and travel around the country on vacation. We give little thought to all those other lives we pass along our way. The third Sunday in November is always a good day to slow down and consider the harm we do […]

We are all so different, and yet, we are all so much alike.   Celebrating our individuality and saluting all that we share makes us better people. On the calendar, the 16th of November marks the International Day for Tolerance, but we should mark it in our hearts every day of the year. The world […]

They gave us chocolate, an act that surely deserves worship. However, on November 14, Spicy Guacamole Day, we praise the Aztec gods for another culinary contribution. Originally, guacamole was a frugal concoction produced by mashing ripe avocados and salt with a mortar and pestle.   However, since those sixteenth-century days, it has been elevated to […]

Veteran’s Day is one of those pseudo holidays that’s hard to know how to celebrate.   It is more about remembering and honoring rather than feasting and revelry. The word ‘Veterans’ can be vague, conjuring images of crusty bearded men with braided hair down their backs protesting, or amputees that stare out the window and […]

Charlie Parker once said, “Don’t play the saxophone, let it play you.” These words, spoken by a jazz master, perfectly describe the spirit and style of this instrument.   On November 6, Saxophone Day, we celebrate its mellow, soulful tones. Patented in 1846, it has stood the test of time. Do not be fooled by […]

What does your favorite say about you? Could it be a touchstone for regional identity? Is it a source of foodie comfort? We ponder these questions because November 3 is one of our tastiest holidays.   So pull out the plates, reach for some napkins, and join us in celebrating Sandwich Day. The simple meal’s […]

Whether your life has been devoted to debauchery or to a fantasized existence within your video games, the inscription on your tombstone will say something uniquely different about how you choose to be remembered. While the thought of pre-planning is morbidly uncomfortable for some, make the most of November 2, use Plan Your Epitaph Day […]

It’s no wonder there’s confusion about All Saints’ Day. As if becoming a saint weren’t hard enough, imagine having your celebration squeezed between two other holidays. You do have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can be an unknown saint and still have your day. However, there was a time when recognition […]

Everyone knows the adventures of Pocahontas and Sacajawea, both brave Native American women who crossed cultural barriers before there was such a term. Fearless chiefs and warriors carved their names into our history by defending Native American land and lives. Geronimo, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse are legends, but they were real men. Native American […]