Suddenly it hit me: the States really is in a recession. It didn't come in the form of a lay-off or a major economic crisis. It came in the form of a change in tradition. Each year my wealthy Texas friends would regale me with their tales of the traditional Thanksgiving trip to Dallas (via private corporate jet), to see the Dallas game. The kids would send pictures of their hotel, with a new Grinch Christmas exhibit, the women would brag on the bargains they literally hunted down on the dawn of Black Friday (strategic tricks included): that's how Santa managed to pack all those X-boxes and laptops under the tree every year for a number of Christmases.  It was all so fairy-tale outlandish to me, but it brought that spark of fancy and entertainment, knowing that someone, out there, managed to have that much fun.  And somewhere, deep in my heart, I always wished I could be there...

Well, turns out Thanksgiving is cancelled this year. There is no corporate jet budget, therefore there is no trip. No Black Friday bargains to be had, no visits to the Grinch's village, no green eggs and ham breakfasts, no special accommodations at the Cowboy's stadium (never mind if they win or lose). There will be a "low key" barbecue at the ranch and that's it. It is not tragic, most won't even understand how I could be sad at a loss of such indulgence, which isn't even mine. But as I am a stickler for traditions, the sillier and more extravagant the better, I feel the sadness of the affair, as it marks truly an end of an era, an era of prosperity that I felt I could partake in, if only my health would allow. As it is, although I was never invited, I always dreamed of going to Dallas on that famous Thanksgiving trip, and just showing up to join the kids for breakfast or the women in the crazy shopping attack on Black Friday. An opportunity lost, another dream that just went up in smoke never to be realized.   And to that loss I lift my glass of this year's apple cider and bid farewell!