Last night my parents told me a fun story that I wanted to relay to the world:

My parents spent this past Easter with friends. Before brunch was served the host asked everyone to hold hands for a blessing. Once the table settled in, hand in hand with closed eyes, the host began to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. My parents peeked to scan the room to assess were they for real? while the group quietly recited along with the host. When it was over the group started eating. The moment passed.

Months later the host (a huge wiseass) told my parents it had been a prank. The entire table was in on the joke. They all too it so seriously and didn’t break at all and intentionally waited months to reveal this fact — just to play it cool.

Kudos to them for playing such a well executed, and harmless, prank. It works on so many levels but since my parents were the only non-family members how would they know this wasn’t a legitimate tradition in this household? It also worked because they knew my parents wouldn’t want to ask in the moment. It could have been considered unpatriotic or worse, rude, to question someone another family’s rituals.

The kicker is that as they told me this story, I interrupted them immediately. “Oh, just like Christmas Vacation?” A movie we’ve all watched dozens of times over the years. That moment is seared into my brain and the lines leading up to it like, “Grace? She died over 30 years ago” live in brain rent free.

Tonight, gathered around the Thanksgiving table, my dad offered to say grace. These were his words. He was not questioned.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and to all a good night. 🦃