When Norman Rockwell painted his famous painting "Thanksgiving" showing a happy reunion of his own family on Thanksgiving Day over seventy years ago the traditional American family still existed - more as an idea or ideal in many people's minds than as reality. The happiness of the family gathering seems exaggerated to an extent that the painting appears fake, even phony.
Today Rockwell's notion of a typical American family seems even more out of touch with reality. It is almost a provokation considering the social and cultural changes the US has seen over the last decades, not to mention the recent financial crisis that has hit many families hard. This makes the painting an easy target for satire. How does the other half, the non-traditional families, the families who struggle to make a living celebrate Thanksgiving? Here are two descriptions of alternative Thankgiving celebrations we wrote based on parodies of Rockwell's painting:
My Thanksgiving dinner
This Thanksgiving is the first time I’ve been home since I got a
scholarship and became the first member of my family to ever go to college.
It’s nice to see everyone but it’s not quite the homecoming I imagined. I had
expected that everyone would have changed, but EVERYTHING is the same. Jeb is
still absolutely convinced he’ll be a NASCAR-driver even though there is no way
he’ll get a car anytime soon. Marshall somehow found a Chevy pick-up truck for
200$ and insists on wearing a stupid hat to let everyone know about it. Little
Marlene has big dreams but I’m not sure she’ll stay in school long enough.
Uncle Jimmy swore he had stopped drinking and yet there are now three Budweiser
cans on the table and four more under it. It’s also uncle Trevor’s first
Thanksgiving since he got out of jail. Everyone keeps telling him to stop
boozing, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Mom and dad seem to be happy
enough. Dad obviously didn’t bother dressing up and mom kind of forgot to cook.
My Thanksgiving
Daddy and Carlos have done a great job this year. I’m looking up to
Rodrigo holding the camera while all of my adopted brothers are waiting for
Carlos to put down the turkey. A year ago, Daddy and Carlos got married. It was
a beautiful day in NYC. Today’s a very special day since it’s not only
Thanksgiving, it's also daddy and Carlos’ anniversary. The wine tastes divine
and the jello is delicious. After a wonderful meal our family had a sing-along
in our living room and daddy and Carlos then asked us for a game of twister. Of course
we couldn't resist their offer, so we spent the rest of our day doing just that.
The best thing about my family is that nobody’s afraid to be just who they are.
Daddy and Carlos will always be there for each other, for everyone of us no
matter what. Nothing can tear us apart!
