Thanksgiving dinner with a slice of “American Pie”

We were fortunate enough to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in a part of America that continues to honor the “old fashioned” values of family, hard work, and tradition. How do we know that? It was pretty obvious just from observing the different groups that were there with us enjoying a nice holiday meal.

The restaurant at the Little America travel center in western Wyoming had put together a special holiday menu. Obviously the word had gotten out because, despite there being no “city” in the immediate area, there were lots of folks on hand. Much of the crowd was comprised of extended families of 10-15 people, ranging from great-grandparents to several newborns. It seemed that for many of them, this was where they always spend their Thanksgiving.

In recognition of the special-ness of the day, most everyone was in their “nice” clothes though several of the outfits reflected the ranching character of the community; cowboy hats, boots, big belt buckles, and wool-lined leather jackets. There were also several Native American families, including one gentleman who was wearing his Cherokee Tribal Council jacket.

The hardworking nature of the residents was also apparent from looking at the weathered faces and scraped knuckles. These are people who obviously spend a lot of time working outside.

One family in particular caught our attention because they exemplified each of those three values. It included a mom and dad, a teenage son and daughter, and a grandfather. One look at them and you knew they were ranchers, a tradition that spanned at least the three generations at the table – if not more. They also knew Whom to thank as they prayed almost as soon as they gave their order to the waiter. Mom also looked like she could handle a horse and a rope, and we imagined the daughter would probably marry into another ranching family. Of course, any boy wanting to date her will have to pass Dad’s scrutiny and face his wrath should he mistreat her.

Obviously, this kind of lifestyle is not for everyone. But it’s comforting to know there are people who continue to embrace this way of life, despite the growing pressures from “modern society” to take the easier route – at the expense of many of the values that have made this country what it is.