I’ve never had turkey for Thanksgiving. Growing up, only my dad really liked turkey and we never would get one for this family and food-centric holiday.

Martha dearest: I know, I know. I left you cold and now I’m back, leaning on your sweet shoulders.

In October 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee decided the easiest way to grab headlines was to scare the country.

First, you’re nine months pregnant, living in L.A. You’ve doubled in size. Your daily walk has become a slow shuffle. In your new neighborhood, the bougainvilleas bloom.

Bicycling and raising children are back in fashion, and even a spectrum of “mindfulness.” So it’s not all sonics, automatons and the blogosphere.

I usually mentally prepare myself for Nov. 9 each year by taking the day off and escaping somewhere. This year when the day came, I was overwhelmed with work.