Holiday Traditions

[Flar's Freyja]

I was really touched by something my 21 year old did this past Thanksgiving. Our tradition is to listen to Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant" each Thanksgiving, because it always played on the radio on the long drive to my mom's each year. I had a used CD store track down a copy for me.

I left home to live with Flar about 2 years ago, and now my son comes to see me on holidays. Well, this year he wasn't leaving until I found the CD and we played it! We sat on the floor in front of the stereo and listened and sang - we know ALL the words - and laughed about the Group W bench and the mother rapers and father stabbers and father rapers....especially since he's in the military now.

Last year, he insisted that I come over and put up the tree even though he's living there by himself now.

My family didn't have special traditions like this. It feels so good to have established something that my kids remember - even if ours is kind of wierd!

For you young 'uns who have never heard the song about Alice and the restaurant, you can read the lyrics here, but it is far better to hear Arlo speak and sing them:

http://www.arlo.net/lyrics/alices.shtml

[MammaStar]

My son and I listen to Arlo too every Thanksgiving. I wouldn't leave the house Thursday until five minutes to Noon. The local radio was playing it at Noon.

I LOVE that song. I grew up listening to Arlo anyway, thanks to my mom and I adore him. My son cracked up laughing the whole time. I guess he never paid attention to the song until this year. :D

"you can have anything you want at Alice's Restaurant...ceptin' alice...." :D

[Flar's Freyja]

My son and I listen to Arlo too every Thanksgiving. I wouldn't leave the house Thursday until five minutes to Noon. The local radio was playing it at Noon.

I LOVE that song. I grew up listening to Arlo anyway, thanks to my mom and I adore him. My son cracked up laughing the whole time. I guess he never paid attention to the song until this year. :D

"you can have anything you want at Alice's Restaurant...ceptin' alice...." :D

It thrills my heart to have found people who get it! My son has made his friends join us in the past, and they just don't get it!

I think my middle one took his cue from the interview with the army psychologist when he was in........Kill.....Kill.........

Yep, he was their boy!

[Aleigh]

I LOVE that song. LOL We don't have a recording of it but it always seems to come on the radio while we're driving to Dan's uncle's house Thanksgiving afternoon. A few times we have just sat in their driveway waiting for it to finish before we went in. :lol: I just realized we didn't hear it this year. :(

[MammaStar]

and if three people sing it.....in harmony......


:lol:


J-man knew right away it was written during Vietnam, I didn't even have to tell him. He doesn't remember, but we got to see Arlo during the Further Festival a few years back. The day AFTER I left the tour, Arlo sang Alice's Restaurant. I had been to five shows and each time hoping he'd break it out. Figures, right when my vacation was over, he sang it. No matter, I got to see him sing all kinds of songs and hear him speak. At the end of that tour that year, they gave out "awards" Arlo got "Most likely to incite a riot." :lol:

[Tanya]

well i'll be bad an tell the truth, Thanksgiving is the slaughter for us red neck pagans here in the mountains... and about the time it comes blaring over someone's truck radio we are all covered in pig's blood from the butchering, a little drunk or high or both, freezing our but off and just about ready to retire to a warm kitchen for some tuckey... perfect!