The 3rd Annual CWD Thanksgiving Round-Up

Gratitude; traffic, fussy kids, reader superlatives.

The Family CWD spent most of Tuesday afternoon in the car. Mostly due to lack of forethought, we hit the road just after lunch — which, we learned after we arrived at our destination was the peak of Thanksgiving traffic. What should have been a three-and-a-half drive ended over six hours later — much of it spent at a standstill on the Merritt Parkway.

I generally think of myself as a fairly level-headed person. But sitting in traffic brings out the worst of me. As lightened as I’ve found myself over the last year, I lost most of that lightening driving through Connecticut. But at one point as we sat, barely moving, in the southbound lane, we looked over and saw that the northbound side of the parkway was entirely stopped — with a stretch between exits completely blocked off, traffic rerouted. Mrs. CWD, with her ever sage wisdom, remarked that we should be thankful we weren’t heading that way.

Thanksgiving is a day for gratitude. It’s important to remember that. It’s so easy to get worked up over little things — traffic, bad weather, kids who (rightfully) go a little stir-crazy after an entire day in the car. But, there are things to be grateful for everywhere, if only you take a moment to look for them.

Thanksgiving is, of course, over — but that doesn’t mean you should stop being thankful. Instead of getting worked up, relishing a moment alone with the Warthog when he refuses to sleep¹. Instead of worrying about cold, wet weather, being grateful for the precipitation after a summer of drought. Instead of worrying that something could be wrong, appreciating that everything could go right.

So there are your reflections. We’ll revert now back to our classic post-Thanksgiving tradition of gratitude — from both me and Mrs. CWD — and the CWD Reader Thanksgiving Superlatives. Feel free to drop your own additions in the comments.

I. Gratitude

CWD

1. The Family CWD. In it’s entirety, but Mrs. CWD and the Kiddos most of all.

2. Connections. All of them.

3. Health. My own and that of those I love.

4. Good friends. I hope they know who they are.

5. Optimism. That which you manifest is before you.

Mrs. CWD²

1. Family.

2. Our health.

3. Mr. CWD’s cooking.

4. Great friends.

5. The upcoming addition to the Family CWD³.

III. Reader Superlatives

The Floridian Family CWD — “Most Devoured”

"How many people are you having over?" "Twenty-eight!"

Tio and Tia CWD — “Quickest Leftovers”

“This is dinner… the main event is at lunch.”

Roommate CWD, MPP — “Most Ham”

Check out that spiralization!

Roommate CWD, MD — “Best Tablecloth”

Also nominated: "Best Parenting Hack"

Freidaddy — “Least Surprising”

Dorsia, how impressive!

Elisabet Juan Roca

— “Most New England”

Can you tell which reader is the professional photographer?

Matt from North Bridger Bison — “Most Montana”

Who needs a cornucopia when you have bison horns!

The Cousins CWD — “Fruitiest”

Well trussed!

Cheffy, all the way from Jolly Ol’ England — “Most Dedicated”

“Simply exceptional!”

And, the CWD Thanksgiving Spread — “Furthest Travelling Bird”

With that, I’ll leave you to your post-Thanksgiving relaxing. The Family CWD will be busy, with a long weekend filled with train rides and helicopter museums, enjoying family company, seeing lights and charging cars. We just hope to survive back home on Sunday!

Whether you’re spending time with your family, with friends, by yourself, or with a dog, I hope you take a moment to reflect with gratitude this weekend, meditate on optimism, and let someone know you love them. We’ll see you back here next week with our annual gift guide.

PS — It has nothing to do with Thanksgiving, but I did clean up some of my Substack recommendations over the last few weeks. I try my best to share excerpts from newsletters I particularly enjoy in my own Substack “Notes,” but in the event that you’d like to go straight to the source, you can find my favorite newsletters here.

1. There’s a famous quote from Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher, that goes something along the lines of “when you kiss your children goodnight, remind yourself that tomorrow they may die.” This sounds morbid at first blush. But thanks to something

Sam Alaimo

wrote — about his dog, believe it or not — I now appreciate the idea more when I frame it like this: appreciate and be grateful for the time we have now, because we won’t always have it. What would I otherwise be doing when the Warthog is sleeping? Reading? Talking? Wasting time on my phone? Why am I getting frustrating that I can’t be doing that? Instead, it’s far better to take the time to cuddle with him, to soothe him — because soon (hopefully not too soon) my presence alone won’t be enough (or even wanted!).

2. We didn’t coordinate these, I swear.

3. Coming Q1 2025 — get stoked!