what day does thanksgiving fall on this year

 

one year, we were hovering about the kitchen as we were making our plans for the rapidly approaching holiday season. steven was seated at the dining room table and i was washing dishes as we choreographed the annual dance to spend time with each of our parents, and my grandma and grandpap. "hey, hon, you're near the calendar", he called out to me, "what day does thanksgiving fall on this year?" i straightened the calendar hanging on the wall near the refrigerator as i peeked at the month of november. "the twenty-seventh", i replied. "no, i mean what day does thanksgiving fall on this year?", he retorted. i didn't quite know what to say. was this a test? "very funny. thursday", i said, playing along. you would have thought he won the lottery. "thursday? thursday. oh, my gosh! can you believe that?", he squealed with delight. i just sorta stared at him for a moment. but he just stared back, waiting for me to join him in celebration of his gleeful discovery. "you're kidding, right?", i asked. "no, i'm serious. i am completely serious! look at a calendar and see for yourself, just how often thanksgiving falls on a thursday!" bless his heart. i hated to burst his bubble on that one.

~ janean christine mariani