What an amazing adventure our country has had, and is still having. I am so thankful to those early brave settlers of our country, the first of many waves of immigrants seeking freedom and opportunity.  Imagine the courage it took to leave a "civilized" comfortable life and set out for the largely unknown.  On Thanksgiving Day do some time traveling with your children.  Say to them,

"Close your eyes and pretend you are on the Mayflower, seeing land, the land where you will live the rest of your life.  It was a terrible, long and arduous trip across the Atlantic in the Mayflower.  Many died and you are weak and hungry. 

It's November and getting cold.  You are one of the still living.  You feel exhilarated, hopeful, sickly, tired and fearful.  Your supplies are severely depleted owing to the longer than planned for trip.  There's no time to get crops into the ground, harsh winter weather is coming on, elusive Indians appear and disappear in the distance. You need shelter.  You are so desperately hungry that you rob a cache of Indian corn, although that was against your puritan religious convictions.

Soon enough you meet Massasoit, the charismatic leader of the Wampanaug tribe.  Massasoit speaks a little English and seems welcoming.  You learn that across New England whole tribes of Indians had recently died from disease contracted from European fishermen.  Somehow you make it through the winter.  In the spring the Indians show you the best way to plant corn.  You learn that in the Indian culture you always offer food to your guests even when it means there won't be enough to feed to your family when the guests leave.  One of your leaders saves Massasoit's life.

Some of you are familiar with farming; none of you know how to catch fish.  You begin trading with the Indians.  You owe a "fortune" to the financers of Plymouth Plantation so there's a lot of pressure to grow crops and send supplies back to England.  You don't know it will take you 30 years to pay back the investors.  Life is rough both physically and financially. 

The following fall you share a harvest meal with the Indians who have helped you.  Picture numerous individual fires with roasting rabbits, deer, stew in pots, vegetables, but probably no turkey.  Nothing like today except two different cultures working things out... or were they?"

This more accurate depiction of the "first thanksgiving" was presented in Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. I read it hoping to find the origins of our national culture and character.  It's all there, Mayflower for adults and The Mayflower and the Pilgrims' New World for readers around 14.  Read about the real Mayflower story, a story of human nature, "a story of courage, community and war". 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  Enjoy your families!   Parmalee

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything >>

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Perks | Movie Showtimes

When you see New Leaf's logo on our calendar, chances are they are planning an informative event for you! The "community" in New Leaf Community Markets has an awesome meaning.  New Leaf serves our community with high quality foods, does well in our community because of our support and gives back to our community in many ways.  Nice circle.  Join in!  If you have not yet seen the new store on the west side of Santa Cruz, do! It's a joy to visit.

Health Lecture: Exploring Bio-identical Hormones, Are Bio-Identical Hormones for You?
Wednesday, 12/2 from 6-8pm, $25, for Women and men of all ages

Join Dr. Aimée Shunney to find out what bio-identical hormones are, if they're safer than synthetic hormones, and how to determine if they can help you. Topics include current research, testing, routes of administration how to obtain prescriptions, and hormone prescriptions for thyroid and adrenal support.

Pre-registration by Dec 1. Call 831-466-9060 ext 126 or at newleaf.com.

Cooking Class: Simple Solutions for Holiday Entertaining, How to Make Holiday Party Plates!
Thursday, 12/3 from 6-8-pm, $-15

New Leaf's Food Service Director, Nancy Weimer, and New Leaf Assistant Food Service Director, Val Vander Laan, will demonstrate easy to make, attractive and irrisistible party appetizer plates.

Pre-registration by Dec 2 is required. Call 831-466-9060 ext 126 or online at newleaf.com.

Westside New Leaf, 1101 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz

Think Local First, suggests that, by spending first with locally-owned independent businesses, we will keep more of our tax revenues and more of our capital. In a 2002 study conducted in Austin by Civic Economics, it was determined that for every $100 spent at a non-local business (e.g. chain store), only $13 remained within the community. But for every $100 spent at a locally-owned, independent business, $45 stays in the community.

Think Local First does not say we should not shop at the community's giant chain stores. The organization simply suggests that we think first of spending our money at locally-owned businesses because more of that money will stay in the community so we can spend it again, and again, and again, money that generates tax revenues for our services.