I am a great believer in Gotham. I am not a believer in one of Gotham's mottos. I know it is not better to give, than receive. It's exactly the same. Giving. Receiving. The exact same.

As I write this, Cyber Monday is coming to a close. You know, that day meant for fuzzy slippers on your feet, a cup of coffee in one hand and your computer mouse in the other.

  My younger children were home from college this week. And I have to admit that, for us, family time is all about food.    

The news the other day reported that pillow fights are now banned. They are causing too many injuries.   No, this was not about pillow fights at the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, or the local junior high schoo pajama partyl. And it was not Victoria's Secret banning pillow fighting photo shoots - heaven forbid. It is coming from the superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point.  

I enjoy Thanksgiving. It's the one holiday where there's no pressure to give presents or act in a certain way. It's about giving thanks and being grateful for what you have.   I sat around the table last Thursday looking at my family. Although everyone wasn't there, it was nice. I looked at my Mom and hoped this wasn't the last one she'll see. I'm not even sure she'll remember this in a couple days when I see here again. But no matter, we are here....breathing, alive and for the most part, enjoying each other while eating some delicious food.  

My favorite type of reading (or listening to CDs, as the case may be) is a good biography about the life of an interesting person. Recently I finished those of Whitey Bulger and Oprah and I'm now reading about my former Syracuse classmate Lou Reed. 

Last week I heard a psychologist on the radio talk about how stressful Thanksgiving has become. She focused on the difficult choices people have to make about where to be for the holiday.  As families grow, in-laws, and other complications lead to impossible choices and conflicts. I think that thanksgiving includes understanding and forgiveness. Most importantly, in the words of the Rolling Stones...

Sometimes the most wonderful things can happen. Monday night I had the great good fortune to attend a screening of West Side Story, one of my all time favorite films.