Happy Thanksgiving: Seeing With New Eyes

Two beautiful immigrant women teach me
how to appreciate joy.

You know I've never thought much of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade when I lived away from it. And even when I moved to NYC, I just wasn't feeling it; even the one Thanksgiving my girls and brother and I went and were so cold, we didn't stay long.

It wasn't until this Thanksgiving that I began to understand it and it is because of two immigrant women: one 101 years old and the other in her late 30s.. Maria, the oldest member of our Memoir group orally tells her stories, and explained last week why she loves this parade.

"In our country the parades only involve the military," she said, "but when we came to America, oh the joy we found watching all the colorful floats and marching bands!"

Caridad, who is from Mexico, and attends my ESL class in Harlem, hugged me good-bye on Tuesday, and said,  "I am so sad because I must work on Thanksgiving, but most of all I am sad because I will miss the parade. I love to all!" she said, her face lighting up just thinking of it.

I sat there, marveling. Today, I am watching it. I'm sitting here, drinking coffee, and giving thanks.

It's an Immigrant's Thanksgiving and this American is mighty thankful.