A Thanksgiving Movement
If you are reading this I can only assume you are trying to escape your family. And if that’s the case, I’ve got just the thing for you. Clear the next twenty minutes, turn up the volume on your computer, and make yourself comfortable for this annual FLB Thanksgiving tradition.
It’s a music video of sorts, and it all starts on one Thanksgiving many, many years ago. If you are wondering what this has to do with food, well a restaurant plays prominently into the story. Because it is more of a story than a song. And perhaps it’s even more of a movement than a story.
So if you think the story starts to drag around the four minute mark, stick it out. It’ll be worth it in the end. And if it’s not, feel free to tell me. Just know I may tell you it requires multiple viewings. Because really, it does.
Maybe you’ve heard Alice’s Restaurant before, with it’s familiar refrain, “You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant / Walk right in it’s around the back / Just a half a mile from the railroad track / You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant.”
But this song is a bit like Citizen Kane.
Even though the words remain the same, it seems to change every year. This year I am struck by the idea of creating a movement. Because despite the flaws of Occupy Wall Street, there is no arguing that the notion of occupying public spaces is gaining momentum.
Maybe what OWS needs is a singer/songwriter that is as clever and compelling as Arlo Guthrie. Although he does seem to ramble a little bit. However his scathing anti-war message is wrapped up in a pleasing little ditty. If you haven’t listened to the song in a while, or never sat attentively to it the whole way through, you may not even have any idea what it’s about.
Because it’s not about a restaurant.
Maybe when you are done, you’ll even be inspired to go back to your family and plug them into the song as well. There are lessons for people of every age. It’s never too early to teach your kids about social movements.
And if not this year, then next year. Because as long as I’m blogging, and as long as I can find an active link to the song, I’m going to encourage you to listen every Thanksgiving Day.
I wish you and yours the very best.
FUSSYlittleBLOG 
Glad I’m not the only one who enjoys this tradition!
Wow…my two favorite blogs had the same theme yesterday but from very different perspectives. Have a look: http://guapola.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/friday-foolishness-post-thanksgiving-edition/#comment-469.
I actually had the pleasure of flipping on the radio yesterday and by chance, there it was…the song. I loved being able to pull over and listen till the end because I had a relaxing day while the hubby made dinner and I recovered from the 5k before having a drink with some friends.
Today, the day after, it’s been a pleasure to finish all my errands, my shopping online and (finageling some kick-ass deals), to have glorious weather in which to get all the leaves out of my yard an into my neighbor’s (just kidding…only a little) and to have quiet time with my boys. But not really quiet…they’ll be screaming at their wii game.
So much to be thankful for…
Reblogged this on FUSSYlittleBLOG and commented:
Happy Thanksgiving. This is up a little later than usual. But it’s part of my Thanksgiving tradition, and I hope it will be a part of yours. This is my first attempt at “Reblogging” something, so we’ll see how this works. But for those of us who are safe and well fed, enjoying the comforts of home and family, this is an especially important reminder that the world still needs healing. More fresh content will be coming soon. But for today, I hope you can take a little time and watch the music video below… again.