Charlie’s turkey

Charlie came home from school yesterday with an art project turkey, which I‘ve always found a little odd.

We ask small children to create happy versions of a bird they almost never see alive and will be eating in a day or two.

Anthropomorphized, construction paper versions of their future food.

Weird. Right? The only real interaction that children (or adults) have with turkeys is with their hollowed-out carcass, yet somehow the happy turkey has become a symbol of our holiday.

On the back of Charlie’s turkey are unrealistically colored feathers, and on each feather is written something for which Charlie is thankful.

My heart melted when I saw “My sister.” I can’t tell you how happy I am that Charlie and Clara love each other so much.

I was impressed when I saw “Freedom” and “Universe.” Large, fairly amorphous concepts, but Charlie seems to understand their importance.

I admit that I was a little annoyed that didn’t make the cut but “Toys” did.

Toys over parents?

The only solace I took from “Toys” was that it didn’t say “Mom.”

Indicating his thankfulness for Elysha while leaving me off entirely (which was a definite possibility) might have been too much for me to take.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.