I recall growing up that all the old people would say that time goes faster the older you get. And while it actually does not speed up, it sure seems like time flies as a person ages. This past year seems to be a true example of that as it came and went like a Banshee. And having said that, one might surely ask “Ol’ Dutch. What in the world is a Banshee?” 

Being the kind and considerate fella that I am I will just tell you so you have something new to share at the next pot-luck dinner. It seems that a Banshee is a female ghost that screams and shrieks and wails producing a keening to announce the death of a family member. 

And that is about how the year went as it was filled with a lot of screaming and shrieking and that was just the sounds Ol’ Dutch made when he tried to get out of his chair after a day of house building. But regardless of how the year went we are fast approaching Thanksgiving where I plan to share a bird with Son #1 and family. 

Thinking about that today brought back happy memories of making paper turkeys in school, plays about Squanto, Pocahantas and the Pilgrims.  I doubt now that kids get to enjoy those stories about our nation's early days as they are probably not politically correct. And it's a shame. 

When I was growing up, we always were able to spend holidays with our grandparents. And what wonderful days those were for sure as they always made it seem so special at the time. And looking back I have to think that they all had suffered some really hard times so were honestly thankful for family, food and their needs met. Of course, they are all long gone now to their reward and so we have to suffice with making new memories with our families. 

A fact to share around the great bird is that eating turkey does go way back in history as there were estimated to be over ten million of the noble birds on the Continent when the pilgrims landed. So a ready source of protein was at hand and even though most people don't go out and shoot their own gobbler, we buy and consume over 46 million of them on Thanksgiving alone. And that my friend is a lot of drumsticks no matter how you slice it or dice it. 

Not many people know but we are darned lucky to be able to eat the noble bird on Thanksgiving as Benjamin Franklin, truly preferred the turkey over the eagle. About the eagle, Franklin said, “The Bald Eagle...is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly and is too lazy to fish for himself.” While the turkey, according to him, was a noble and fully American bird. 

Now poor Old Ben actually didn't propose the turkey be our national bird as rumors have it, but he sure insinuated that it would be a better choice. And if he had pursued that maybe with a little more fervor, we may have been eating eagles instead. But he was too busy, so it seems, flying kites and getting near electrocuted to mess around with such things. 

I have to admit that Ol’ Dutch was a tad confused this year as to the date for Thanksgiving because all the stores have already put everything out for their annual Black Friday Sales. This is traditionally held the day after bird day, but they started about a month early as I suppose they need the sales to stay afloat. Only in America can you buy Black Friday goods on Monday or Tuesday or any other day of the week leading up to the actual day. 

And Miss Trixie is planning on cashing in on the stores’ need to sell. Be it kitchen appliances, or paint, she is making deals like a pillaging pirate for the new house. Long live the bird! 

Kevin Kirkpatrick spends his days fishing, hunting, ATVing, hiking or making people laugh. His email is Kevin@TroutRepublic.com. Additional news can be found at www.troutrepublic.com or on Twitter at TroutRepublic.