So Much to be Thankful for!

Okay. Yep, I know the past year has been tough for many of you. Believe me, this self-employed writer is feeling the current economic downturn too. But you know what? There is a silver lining to this economy. Perhaps now, we Americans can begin rediscovering just what makes our country so great. And it has little to do with accumulating material objects. It has everything to do with our families, friends, communities, nation, and freedom.

Happiness is not measured by nor gained by consumption. Happiness is attained by strong bonds to family, friends, community and the natural world. Tough economic times? Yep, but we have so much to be thankful for here in America. We're resourceful people who etched out a great nation from wilderness- survived civil war-fought the Nazis and Imperial Japan, and persevered through the Great Depression that lasted for over a decade. We're better off as a people and a nation because of all of these challenges. Sometimes we don't really see our true selves and real nature until a crisis. Look at 9/11. It didn't destroy us. It brought us together. No one can take away our freedom and way of life if we don't take it for granted.

This is a great time to reflect on what is truly important and to be thankful for all that we have. And we as a people and a nation have so much! That's worth celebrating over. We've come a long way since Jamestown and Plymouth were founded in the early 1600s. The colonists then survived great odds. They were thankful for their bounties, the help of others (especially Indigenous people who had little to gain by helping them) and for Providence's divine hand. Amen. Happy Thanksgiving everyone for we have so much here to be thankful for!

Snowshoeing (and eating)

in the Land of the Rising Sun

Continuing my World Hiker special series of my favorite countries and places based upon their culinary contributions, I lead you now to Japan. A decade ago Heather and I headed to Hokkaido in the heart of winter. Here upon Japan's big island-which makes up 20% of the country's land mass but harbors only 5% of its population, we found plenty of open spaces to snowshoe and ski. Japan has an amazing national park system and there are plenty of parks in Hokkaido. We skied calderas, snowshoed up volcanoes and across massive frozen lakes (as pictured below in Akan National Park) and saw some great wildlife like the Tancho (red-crowned crane). And then when it was time to retreat, we headed back to a warm Minshuku (Japanese bed and breakfast) to enjoy delicacies that were not only gastronomically out-of-this-world, but aesthetically pleasing to look at too, arranged as if part of an artist's masterpiece. And when we left the backcountry and spent some time in the big city, I enjoyed buying hot coffee in a can from vending machines and beer too that was dispensed from a sidewalk vending machine. Beer and coffee at my command on every street corner and no freaky barista or gruff bartender to dispense it-just a few 100 yen notes will do, arigato! What a country!

Once, Twice, Three, Four Times a Creme Brulee!

C'est Bon!

Hey, it's Thanksgiving Week and I have food on my mind. C'mon, I'm Italian afterall-I have food on my mind all the time. One of the ways that I judge a country is by its cuisine. One of the things I enjoy most about traveling is trying new foods and any foods. Yep! Just about any foods. I've had every conceivable part of a cow served to me in Argentina. Chicken hearts in Brazil-and just recently served to me right here in my house by my wife. I've had urchins and other gushy things-the entire darned dredged harbor served to me in Japan. Kim chi coming out of my-well, never-mind, in Korea. Haggis in Scotland. Beetle larvae in the Amazon, fiddleheads in Quebec, cow head in Uruguay, Octopus jerky in Korea, prickly pear in Sicily, hot dogs in New Jersey! So, how about this week we salute some of my favorite countries and places of distinguished culinary tastes.

Today-Quebec! Think North American game and bounties served by a people who gave us the word-cuisine. Anyone who doesn't think there is a Canadian cuisine has never been to Quebec. And it was those wonderful French-Canadians that also gave us Cajun cuisine. Yep, when the English who don't know how to boil water, never mind make a decent meal (hey but they know how to brew a good ale) started throwing the French out of Acadia (that would be Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Gaspe for those of you not versed in Canadian history and geography) they ended up in the bayous of Louisiana. Cajuns are Arcadians and they like the Quebecois, trace their ancestry to one of the finest countries on the planet when it comes to good food- France! Anywhere the French have had an impact, expect good food. Can you say Vietnam, Lebanon, Senegal, Foie gras? Bon appetit!

(Photo-me in Montreal contemplating which Creme brulee to attack first!)

Happy Thanksgiving! Okay. Yep, I know the past few months have been tough. Believe me this self-employed writer is feeling the current economic meltdown too. We're heading into uncharted economic waters now. But you know, there is a silver lining to this. Perhaps now we Americans can begin rediscovering just what makes our country so great-and it has little to do with accumulating material objects. It has everything to do with the freedom to do so-and with that freedom comes responsibility. Happiness is not measured by consumption. Happiness is attained by strong bonds to family, friends, community and the natural world. Tough economic times? Hey we're Americans- resourceful people who etched out a great nation from wilderness- survived civil war- fought the Nazis and Imperial Japan, persevered through the Great Depression that lasted for over a decade. And you know what? We're better off because of all of these challenges. Sometimes we don't really see our true selves and real nature except in times of crisis. And we are in one now. We'll get out of it and we'll be better off because we worked to get out of it. This is a great time to reflect on what is truly important and to be thankful for all that we have-and we as a nation have so much! That's worth celebrating over- We've come a long way since Jamestown and Plymouth were founded in the early 1600s. The colonists then survived great odds. They were thankful for their bounties, the help of others (Indigenous people who had little to gain by helping them) and for Providence's divine hand. Amen. Happy Thanksgiving everyone for we have so much here to be thankful for!

(Photo- Not exactly a Thanksgiving dinner but the folks at tiny Frenchglen, Oregon know how to feast and celebrate)