Practically Speaking
Kyle and her husband moved to Brookfield in 1986. She became active in local politics and started blogging in 2004. Her focus is primarily on local issues but often includes state and national topics, too. Kyle looks at things from the taxpayers' perspective in a creative, yet down to earth way, addressing them from a practical point of view.
Thanksgiving
http://www.latimes.com/features/kids/readingroom/la-et-story23-2008nov23%2C0%2C7094177.story
A Time to Pay Tribute to the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock "Giving Thanks"
It was Thanksgiving, and for the first time our whole family was
together. Mom and Dad had to drive all night just to get here, but boy
was it worth it! The Grandsters really know how to do it up right. The
Grandsters being Grandpa and Grandma. We were all seated at the table,
and I couldn't wait to dive into those mashed potatoes and gravy. And
the smell of the turkey -- I thought I was going to faint with
happiness.
"What's that, Mindy?" demanded my little cousin Sam. He can be such a pain. He is 8 years old, two years younger than I am.
He pointed to a little paper cup containing
just three kernels of corn beside Grandpa's plate. I opened my mouth to
answer and then realized I didn't know. Ugh! How I hate admitting that
I don't know something!
Grandma answered, "It is to pay tribute to the Pilgrims."
"But why three kernels?" asked the always curious Sam. Give it a rest, I thought.
Grandpa answered, "It reminds me of what a tough time the Pilgrims had.
In the beginning, three kernels of corn was each person's daily food
ration." The table got real quiet after he said that.
Grandpa continued, "Against all odds, they made a life for themselves in the wilderness. Let's talk more about it after dinner."
Sure enough, dinner was over and Sam wanted to know more.
" Squanto taught the Pilgrims to grow corn!" Sam exclaimed. He's never
going to forget that -- he played Squanto in the Thanksgiving Day play
at school.
"That's right," Grandpa said. "But at first the Pilgrims were terrified
of the Indians, as they called them. Then one day a tribesman named
Samoset ventured into their encampment. He was tall and dark and by
many accounts quite handsome. Loudly and plainly he proclaimed,
'Welcome!' in perfect English."
"The Pilgrims must have freaked!" shouted Sam.
Grandpa laughed and agreed. "I'm sure you're right. He had learned the
language from English fishermen. For the Pilgrims, life was a constant
battle for survival. Later, Governor William Bradford made a decision.
Instead of the colonists sharing their crops equally, he assigned a
parcel of land to each family and told them they could keep whatever
they produced for themselves."
It was Thanksgiving, and for the first time our whole family was
together. Mom and Dad had to drive all night just to get here, but boy
was it worth it! The Grandsters really know how to do it up right. The
Grandsters being Grandpa and Grandma. We were all seated at the table,
and I couldn't wait to dive into those mashed potatoes and gravy. And
the smell of the turkey -- I thought I was going to faint with
happiness.
"What's that, Mindy?" demanded my little cousin Sam. He can be such a pain. He is 8 years old, two years younger than I am.
"Then what happened?" asked Sam.
"At last the Pilgrims began to prosper. Governor William Bradford wrote
in his book 'Of Plimoth Plantation,' 'This had very good success, for
it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than
otherwise would have been.' "
"Shoot! If you can keep everything you make, of course you're going to work harder. Everybody knows that."
Grandpa answered, "The first seed had been planted for the American
Revolution. People were free to practice their religions as they saw
fit and were free to keep the fruits of their labor. This had never
happened before in the history of mankind. In the words of William
Bradford, 'As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here
kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation.' "
"That William Bradford sounds like a pretty cool guy," said Sam.
"He was a pretty cool guy," Grandpa said with a chuckle.
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