I am so positively thrilled that November has come dancing in with a much-needed infusion of bright, cheerful energy! Certainly, we could use some extra autumn color— all those shimmering yellows and golden sunset oranges bring such a welcome jolt after ongoing months of peaceful distancing.

Gosh, I’m looking forward to connecting with friends and family this year. Certainly, this is a Thanksgiving like no other: it will not necessarily kick off a season of robust holiday parties and sparkling events to attend. However, the essence is there - shining through the pauses this year has given us. I have a sense of gratitude that we are together and here for each other.

Maybe you knew this— November is Family Stories Month. I love the thought that this is an old idea carried through to modern times. Ancient Vikings had what they called Wordfame, retelling the stories of their ancestors through memorized eddas that were passed down through generations. The ancient Greeks had a similar idea, Kleos, bringing joy to a family name through tales of heroism and honor.

Reciting the same anecdotes about family and bestowing wordfame on the people dearest to you, simply by retelling those same stories over again each year, seems an accurate description of Thanksgiving. I’m pretty sure those stories, if they had colors, would be a mix of the bright yellows, different varieties of orange, and some gold mixing on one tree in a cacophony of vibrant hues… like laughter around a dinner table.

I hope your November is full of stories that beg to be retold, ripe with laughter and bursting with color. May you enjoy hours of wordfame throughout the month!

Best wishes to you and yours for a lovely November.

Your friend,

Gino Pezzani.