Dear family, friends, fans and Abolish the Crate Federation Members,
Another year has flown by and the Thanksgiving season will soon be upon us. Every year I like to make a list of all the things I’m thankful for but Grady is a little miffed that his Holiday Feast for Dogs did not take off like he anticipated so I’m not sure he will be sharing his list. I can understand his disappointment. Grady admitted the idea of a Holiday Feast for Dogs was radical but he felt like his proposal was very rational and warranted consideration. I would certainly agree. (You can read his blog post here). I tell you all this so that the following is put into perspective.
After I had completed my list of Top One Hundred Things I’m Thankful For This Year, I asked Grady if he would like to share his thoughts about anything Thanksgiving related since it would be very easy for me to include it in the blog. I’ve found if I’m not specific about the subject matter, Grady will take it as an opportunity to express his views on farting and burping. This causes quite a commotion with the legal and marketing department so I try to cut him off at the pass, so to speak. Sadly, I’m not always successful.
But I digress. Like I said, I asked Grady if he wanted to contribute anything to the Thanksgiving themed blog. He paused before answering and said, “Do we really understand the origin of the word Thanksgiving? Do we?” Well, I know a rhetorical question when I hear one so I remained silent and, sure enough, Grady kept talking.
He pointed out that since the word Thanksgiving is actually two words put together, it is quite possible the word Thanksgiving was translated incorrectly and should be Givingthanks. Grady opined that Givingthanks was the original word for the holiday and, further, it was canine shorthand for requesting treats. “If my dear human is giving me treats then I will give them thanks,” is a cumbersome way to remind one to give their dog a treat so the request got shortened to Givingthanks, explained Grady. He wasn’t clear about how it got changed to Thanksgiving, commenting, “I think it had to do with a coordinated effort from the squirrels but who knows?”
I suspect Grady is testing the waters to see if Givingthanks would further his goal of increasing worldwide daily treat distribution. I’m not sure how well it will work but as his brother it is my duty to support him in any way I can. That said, Grady and I would like to wish each and every one of you a joyful and bountiful Givingthanks holiday!
There you have it. Chapter and verse.
Dawson Earnest Huntley
President & CEO
Abolish the Crate Federation
