My City By The Bay

Well by now you know it’s no secret that I love going to the zoo.  I thought it only fitting that with Turkey Day just around the corner I’d take a snapshot of one of the long time residents of the San Francisco Zoo.  My buddy the turkey.  He’s colorful, tame and very melancholy due to the time of year.  Seriously though,  I cannot say that I am a vegetarian by any means but when I visit the zoo and see Mr. Turkey  it does make me feel not only a little guilty but a bit nauseous as well that for 50 some odd years I’ve been eating this creature just because it’s the traditional “thing to do.”   I’ve never been able to bring myself to eat rabbit or duck so why should turkey be any different?

This beautiful creature I believe is somewhat optimistic due to the fact he is caged and in the confines of a zoo.  Watching him though really makes me think about Thanksgiving and it’s true meaning.  We all gather around with family and friends and feast on this beautiful bird and give thanks for what we have on our dinner plates.  And, especially when there are hundreds of thousands of people starving not only in our hometown but all over the world is the turkey really that important to our celebration? Should we not be thankful for what we have and share it with those less fortunate?  We don’t necessarily need to share with Mr. Turkey.  Thanksgiving is about sharing ourselves and our time with others.  Bring on the candied yams, stuffing and pumpkin pie and let’s give thanks for these beautiful turkeys who take up residence in our zoos.