I was most thankful this holiday for being seated as usual with cousin-in-law Brewster, a lawyer who reads Plato for fun, and his Presbyterian minister brother Christopher, who after our great conversation last year sent me the transcript of a debate between an atheist and a Christian scientist on whether God exists. This year they took the conversation to a whole new level as we discussed quantum physics and the nature of God.
I should say they discussed and I struggled to even understand what the hell they were taking about, but it was fascinating and gave much food for thought. Brewster, like me, leans toward a view that if there is a god, it is more an energy or unity of the universe, man's quest for transcendance, than a personal deity that actually causes things to happen or cares what happens. Christopher believes God is separate and beyond us humans -- that when we transcend, we actually find and experience God.
Brewster has also come to believe that quantum mechanics, and in particular something called brane theory, supports the existence of god. This is the part I would love to to know more about, although a cursury googling brought up articles on M Theory and superstring theory that I fear might be just a teensy tad beyond my ken. (OK, so I took the History of Biology in college to avoid having to learn any actual science like chemistry or physics, which I did miserably on in high school.) But it IS very cool.
I am also thankful that my chiropractor gave me (and 20 other clients) a beautiful 15-pound turkey on Tuesday. Since we go to Gigi's for dinner every year and never have any leftovers, I decided it was high time I finally cooked a whole bird, stuffing and all -- yet another first for me this year. I brined it overnight, after defrosting it and pulling out those gross bags of innards which I'm still trying to decide how to use. Truth be told, I want to throw them out but feel that would be wasteful and sort of giving up on some important and earthy tradition of using everything on an animal that has given its life to me and my family -- no matter how vile and disgusting.
I had to include the photo because let's face it, that is one greet looking bird, isn't it? A couple of hours after feasting on turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce for lunch the next day, Maddie asked what was for dinner. I said turkey, of course. "But we had it yesterday and today already," she replied. Isn't that funny? Silly dear doesn't realize she will be eating turkey sandwiches, stew, soup and salad every meal for the next week at least.
