What's so great about Thanksgiving

1. Four days away from work, as many or more than at Christmas, its principal competition among the majors.
2. The food, including leftovers (turkey pot pie for supper tonight).
3. Nonsectarian.  For everyone, from California to the New York island.
4. Doesn't necessarily involve shopping, except for groceries, which is pretty much the only shopping I enjoy.
5. Televised football.  Often someone to cheer against, as was the case with the last game yesterday, from Green Bay.  If the weather is bad, so much the better.
6. Speaking of which, the pleasant associations, such as the game on Thanksgiving Day, 1969, in Detroit, at the old Tiger Stadium, where, in a snowstorm, the Vikings beat the Lions, 27-0, the last touchdown occurring when Alan Page batted a pass into the hands of Jim Marshall, who steamed toward the correct end zone and, as he was being tackled, lateraled the ball over his left shoulder with his right arm to Page, who ran the last fifteen yards for the score.  Just a little ball handling razzle dazzle in the snow from your defensive linemen.  Imagine Paul Allen making the call on that one!