Keeping The Faith

/ Ann Coleman

I was hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, so when I first heard the news reports of predicted turkey shortages, I was concerned.  I hurried to my local grocery store early in November to place my order for a fresh turkey, just to make sure I would have one.  But the clerk at the meat counter told me that they weren’t taking orders for turkey or anything else this year, and that he wasn’t sure they would have any fresh turkeys for sale at all.  He told me that if I wanted to be sure to have a turkey for my Thanksgiving dinner, I should buy one of their frozen ones right now, before they ran out. 

I thanked him and went over to the inspect the frozen turkeys.  They were covered with frost, and when I scraped off the label in order to read the price, I was shocked to see that it would cost $37 for a 14-pound turkey.  Call me cheap, but I just couldn’t make myself pay that much for what looked suspiciously like a turkey left over from last year.  I decided to keep looking, and that if I came up empty-handed, we could always celebrate Thanksgiving with a nice lasagna instead.

Luckily, I found a store that was happy to take my order for a fresh turkey, and while it wasn’t exactly cheap, it was free-range, so that made the price easier to accept.  Much harder to accept was the sight of the literally dozens of turkeys, both fresh and frozen, available in every grocery store in the days just before Thanksgiving.  All that worry, all that schlepping from store to store searching for turkeys, and it turned out that there were more than enough for everyone.  I haven’t felt quite that conned since the days after the Beanie Baby craze, and I could blame that one on my kids.

No one who knows me well would ever call me an optimist, but even I have had enough of the doom and gloom predictions that seem so relentless these days.  Yes, there are very real issues to worry about and I’m quite sure that there really are bad things coming our way.  But I also know that not every dire prediction comes true (the predicted turkey shortage certainly didn’t) and that perhaps the time has come for me to be a little more discerning when I decide how I respond to the constant reports of how “the sky is falling.”  Because maybe it is, but maybe it isn’t.

IMG_1069 2We actually had a rather nice Thanksgiving this year.  The vaccines allowed us to gather as an extended family, and for that I was thankful.  I was even more thankful that my husband’s long battle with cancer finally seems to be over, and that we will soon be welcoming another grandchild into our family.  Also, I managed to cook the turkey without setting off the smoke alarm, which doesn’t always happen.  All of which is to say that, even in these troubled times, there is still a whole lot of good going on.  We just have to be willing to see it….

89 thoughts on “Keeping The Faith”

    • They really haven’t, which is good, but it also makes me skeptical about what I hear on the news these days. And yeah, lasagna would have been just fine! I think I worry too much about keeping this traditional when I’m hosting. Thanks for the comment, Janis!

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  3. Oh goodness! Those smoke alarms are scary! I’m so glad your husband has “recovered.” I don’t really know what word to use. Really strange about a turkey shortage. I hadn’t heard that at all. Here’s to thanksgiving having come and gone! On to Christmas!

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    • Thanks, Mimi! I think the official term is in remission, but his radiologist actually said “completely recovered” which sounds so much nicer. As for the turkeys, the shortage was all over the news here, not sure why. And sadly, yes, the smoke alarm has gone off more than once when I’m cooking a holiday meal….I don’t have one tenth of your talent in the kitchen!

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  4. How many shortages are media/advertiser created programs to create more demand? I, for one am sick of being manipulated to buy, buy, buy. If I need it, I get it. If I don’t need it, I don’t worry about it. Shopping for shopping sake will bankrupt the shopper and the world. So glad you found the turkey you needed, that you had a great Thanksgiving and that your husband is on the mend. That is what is important. Stay well Ann. Allan

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    • I’m with you on that, Allan! It seems to me that a lot of this is manufactured fear just to get people to buy more in the face of oncoming shortages. Even during the worst of the pandemic, we could get all of what we truly needed, even if we did have to wait now and then. Too much shopping isn’t good for anyone. And thanks for your good wishes!

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    • I’d love to hear that story, Lorie! My smoke alarms usually went off because something spilled over onto the bottom of the oven and started smoking, rather than actually burning food. But that’s not to say I haven’t ever burned food……

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  6. I think we as consumers are a large part of problem by buying into the sky is falling mentality. There are are A lot of things to have serious concern over, especially given the pandemic is still in full force. But a Turkey-less Thanksgiving should be low on our list of worries. As you suggest the turkey doesn’t make the day special, it’s the people around the table at mealtime. Glad you were able to celebrate with extended family with the good news about your husbands health. And a new grandchild on the way! Lots to be thankful for. Take care Ann.

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    • You’re right, it doesn’t take any more energy to be positive…maybe less. And I sincerely hope your brother achieves full and complete healing. Cancer is so hard, but they have made incredible advances in its treatment. Take care….

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  8. Wise words Ann, thank you for the reminder. My local grocer has reminders at the checkouts about limits on specific products. I am wondering just how early I need to purchase and ship my daughters holiday gift even though it’s only going to Colorado. There’s a new Covid variant and the world is in a panic… we need positive thoughts now more than ever.

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    • I think we really do need to keep positive. Covid is the new reality, I think, and there will always be a new variant. We just have to be sensible and live our lives as best we can. We’ve made incredible progress with vaccines and treatments, and I really do have faith that will continue.

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  9. Of course the sky’s not falling. If all of us jumped at every dire prediction that came down the road, it wouldn’t be long before we’d be jumping off the nearest cliff, just to be done with it. I don’t suppose there’s anything I could say to get you to stop paying so much attention to the click-baiters and fear-mongerers, but believe me; the more of it you tune out, the happier you’ll be. There are whole industries filled with people whose sole purpose to to engender fear, and then to offer ‘their’ solution: buy this, stop doing that, start doing the other thing. Phooey, that’s what I say. If we end up with lasagne from time to time, who knows? It could be the start of a wonderful new tradition!

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    • Believe me, I agree with you! I don’t usually listen to them too much, but sometimes the doomsayers get into my head and do damage. The world has always had challenges and always will have challenges, but humans are a resilient and resourceful bunch on the whole. We’ll figure most of it out. And yeah, now there is a whole industry devoted to keeping us all angry and frightened….but we can choose not to buy into it.

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  10. Hi Ann – I was sure there would be a shortage because the guy in the grocery store told me they couldn’t guarantee there would be more turkeys after the day I was in. I had my coupon for the free frozen one with me, but I didn’t exactly have room in our freezer yet. I took it home anyway and the next week, the bin was overflowing with frozen turkeys. I’m glad you had a nice dinner and that you have so much to be thankful for. We did too!

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    • I’m so glad, Barb! Sometimes we just need to have a little faith that things will work out. I love turkey at Thanksgiving, but I really did think, “well, if I can’t get one, I’ll just cook something else and we’ll have a turkey when they are available.” I think I worried about it more because I was hosting, honestly…I always put too much pressure on myself to do things “right” for others!

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    • I honestly don’t know why the news reported the shortages here, but they did, and I believed them. Turns out there were plenty of turkeys, and as we neared Thanksgiving day, our prices dropped too! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Carolyn!

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  13. So very glad it all turned out well, your thanksgiving, hubbies health and a new grandie coming! What a lot of goodness to look forward to 🙂

    Discerning is the right word … we need to keep our distance, wear masks in crowded places, wash hands thoroughly and the turkeys and blessing will rain upon us 🙂

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  14. Oh Ann, once again you have made me laugh and feel better. The whole turkey thing is right on and like the news is always half empty now.
    It is a year or more that we all wish we didn’t go through but that is life and hopefully is over.
    Thank you for your humor and common sense.

    Patty

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  15. That is a quintessential ‘the-sky is-falling’ account of our present day world threatening to go dystopian in not too distant a future. I am glad you had that wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with the family present in person.

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  20. I agree with you 100%. Despite the gloom and doom, we have so many things to be thankful for. It is time to reflect on the good things in life and all the blessings we have taken for granted. That, in my opinion, is the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

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  21. I’m so glad you had a lovely Thanksgiving, Ann. I heartily agree with you about the willingness to see positivity – triumphing over negativity. One of my favorite lines is: The more you look for something, the more likely you will find it.
    I use that a lot to switch my thoughts. When I look at all the problems, I can certainly find more of them. And when I look at all the great outcomes, I feel a lot better!

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    • That’s so true, Judy! We do tend to find what we’re looking for, so what’s the point in looking for problems? Far better to look for solutions, and things to be grateful for. The world will never be perfect, but there is always good in it, I believe. Thanks for that insightful comment, you summed up what I was trying to say perfectly!

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  22. What GOOD news you’ve shared, Ann! A new grandbaby, your hubby’s health improvements, and finally being able to gather with family over the Thanksgiving holiday. It sort of angers me when “they” tell us to hurry out and buy something because there’s going to be a shortage. Isn’t this how we found ourselves out of toilet paper, while some homes were hoarding it?? No wonder so many people are at wit’s end, always on the alert for the next catastrophe.

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    • Exactly! Constantly preparing for the next catastrophe is not good for our mental or emotional health. I honestly think it’s really irresponsible to predict shortages they way they are, because that can create them (like toilet paper), or at the very least, cause unnecessary angst. So I’m thinking now is the time to focus on the good things that are going on. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

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  23. We had the same gloom and doom in Texas about turkey’s and there was more than enough to go around. Sheesh.

    Co granulation’s on your husband winning the battle with cancer! Praise God Almighty! My husband must have been on the same schedule as yours, because his battle is over as well. Praise God Almighty! Glad your Thanksgiving was wonderful and I pray your Christmas is just as delightful! Amen!

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    • I’m so glad to hear your husband is finished with his treatments!! He has been in my thoughts and both of you have been in my prayers. Thanks for letting me know… and I hope your Thanksgiving was good and you have an even better Christmas!

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      • I confess I normally decorate for Christmas early but this year I savored Thanksgiving since we got the news the day before Thanksgiving. Thank you so much for those prayers and I am going to love continuing my thankful prayers for your husband good news too!

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  24. I agree with you, you have to be willing to look for the good in things, people, the world. I’m hardly an optimist either, but I do make the effort. And am grateful when I see it. Happy to read that your Thanksgiving was all you hoped for.

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    • Thanks, Ally! I think the time comes when even those of us who aren’t optimists realize that there is no point in always assuming the worst case scenario, and on focusing only on the negative. It’s just a matter of recognizing that our emotional and mental health is important, and we have to protect it, I think.

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  25. Happy Thanksgiving (a bit late…we were out of town and I am just now catching up on emails and blog reading). We do have many things to be grateful for, right at the same time there are challenges going on. I am glad that worry about your husband’s cancer seems to be behind you. I heard about the supposed turkey shortage and wondered about it, but I did not cook a turkey (we were guests at another home) so I can’t speak about the supply in our area.

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    • And I’m a bit late in responding to your comment, because I wasn’t able to check on my blog until now, so no worries! But yes, even in the midst of our current challenges, there is much to be thankful for. And I’m beginning to think that there’s a lot of wisdom in that old saying, “let today’s problems be sufficient for today.” There’s nothing to be gained by going looking for trouble, or anticipating problems that may or may not materialize. Thanks for the comment!

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  26. It can be very easy to fall into the trap of seeing things from a not so positive perspective. What’s interesting to me is there truly is just as much good stuff all around us, if we just take the time to refocus our energies & see it. So good to hear your husband is doing well & that you were able to gather as a family. Happy Thanksgiving Ann.💞

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    • Thank you, Lynn! And happy belated Thanksgiving to you too! I agree that there is a lot of good around us, we’re just not exactly being encouraged to look for it. But luckily, we get to make up our own minds about how we look at things. And that’s a good thing!

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  27. Happy Holidays. It is getting ridiculous how social media and the news get us in an anxiety stage over stupid things that really do not matter.

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  29. Of course there are some real shortages. But, from a fellow pessimist, it seems a lot of other suppliers are riding those coattails as an excuse to raise prices and cause a rush on their products. The internet is a good thing but used by a lot of quacks to push their own agendas many of which are totally meritless. And among those quackers are some who say the whole shortage thing is a plot to ruin Christmas.

    We got a nice 18 pounder at Whole Foods for $.98 per pound.

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    • Good for you! We paid more than that, but it was a free range turkey and they let me order it, so I figure the peace of mind is worth something. And I agree that a lot of people are taking advantage of the situation to push their own agenda, whatever that may happen to be. The good thing is, we can turn a deaf ear when we want to!

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  30. Happy Thanksgiving, Ann! Glad you didn’t have to settle for lasagna. I am delighted to hear that your husband is doing well and that you have a new grandchild to look forward to in the new year.

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  31. It’s so nice to be laughing over worrying about getting a turkey, then see that there was nothing to worry about in the first place. Any reason to laugh is welcomed after all the fear and worry of the past years. You have so much to enjoy now and just as much to look forwards to, Ann. That makes me so happy for you.

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    • You’re so right, it’s been a very rough year, for everyone. And even though it has sort of conditioned me to expect the worst, the healthier way to look at it is to be that much more grateful for the good news when it comes. I hope that things are going okay for you….and you remain in my prayers!

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  32. I didn’t know whether to believe the turkey shortage or not. We were eating at my son’s house so I told him if there weren’t any turkeys he could cook whatever he wanted on the bar-b-que pit. They got a turkey with no problem it seems and we had a delicious meal.

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    • As far as I can tell, the turkey shortage didn’t really materialize. My guess is that they didn’t know if they would get their shipments in or not….these days, so much is up in the air….but in the end, the turkeys arrived and there was plenty for everyone, which was good news!

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  33. Ann, a beautiful post and indeed there is so much to be thankful for, we just have to have our hearts and minds open and receptive to the good within our lives! Glad you got a turkey that you wanted … here in the U.K. there are alarm bells of food shortages of certain items and will wait to see what happens! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and great news that your husband looks to be in remission and super exciting about a new grandchild in the way. Congratulations!

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    • Thanks so much for you kind words, Annika! I hope that the food shortages in the UK don’t actually materialize, or if they do, that they are very short-lived. We can handle almost anything in the short term, I think. I also think that is why people are suffering so much from pandemic fatigue…this situation has lasted far too long to be tolerable, and people are acting out. But personally, I’m focusing on the good news in our family!!

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  35. All the gloom and doom does get old! There were certainly plenty of turkeys to go around…You are right in that we have so much to be thankful for. It is best to count our blessings and not focus too much on the negative things. Congratulations on the soon to be arrival of another grandbaby. That is something to celebrate!!! And I am so happy to hear that your husband is doing well. Wishing you many blessings as we enter the Christmas season…

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    • Thanks so much, Linda! Honestly, I can’t take any more of the doom and gloom. Yes, I know there is a new variant on the horizon (and there always will be) but I trust in our ability to cope with it. We have vaccines, we have treatments, and we know this one is coming. But beyond that, I have faith that things will work out. I don’t want to live a life where I am always waiting in fear for the next disaster to hit….my faith is stronger than that!

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  36. Soooo, let me tell you what happened. I have an insider’s understanding because Dwight works for a major grocery store. What they meant when they said there is a turkey shortage is that there may not be as much as we normally have. For example, his co-workers typically have 2 turkeys for Thanksgiving because the grocery store gives one away for free, but this year…wait for it…they would only get 1 :-/

    In reality, there really wasn’t a shortage in terms of what regular shoppers would think.

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    • That’s good to know, Kathy! My guess is that the stores probably didn’t know how many turkeys they would get in this year, and didn’t want customers who waited until the last minute to be disappointed. It was nice that they still gave their workers a free turkey, even if they usually get two. That’s a nice compromise, I think. And it also helps to know that their concern was real. I always like getting information from people who work in the field…they are the ones who know what is really going on!

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  37. So glad to hear you had a lovely Thanksgiving Ann, that your husband’s battle with cancer is over and that your family is expecting another Grandchild. How wonderful! But you’re right, there’s way too much doom and gloom predictions out there. Best we focus on our own patch. There is always good and there is always enough!

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  38. Turkey, no smoke alarm, family gathering, present end to cancer, and another grandchild on the way . . . wow! So much to be thankful for. I am so glad you had a nice time. I am not ready for December.

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  41. I worried about the availability of turkeys too so I opted for ham. You really had a lot to be thankful for with your husband winning over cancer and another grandchild on the way. Your table was beautiful! Wishing you all the best for the holidays ahead!

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