“In 1621, as the Pilgrims and Native American Indians celebrated a three-day feast with their bounties of corn, wheat and pumpkin pies – so is the birth of Thanksgiving…”

That’s what our hosts’ improvised play suggested as the history of U.S.’ biggest holiday. With some decent grades in my history subjects, I was not to buy that romanticized version of the feast's origin.

But whether folklore-ish or otherwise, I sure enjoyed my first, and probably my last, Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving Day Thursday was spent over at our manager’s house in north Houston – in a quiet, suburban neighborhood very much like the provinces outside of Metro Manila. It was an hour ride from our apartment but we are to be rewarded for the long, stressful journey by the feast that’s waiting for us.

Pumpkin and apple pies, baked spinach and beans, mashed potato and gravy, cranberry and blueberry pie, cornbread, ham, Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and turkey – I had a sudden regret of having breakfast before the service picked us up.

All servings huge and delicious, I just can’t understand what’s the big deal with the turkey is. I mean, it tastes very much like chicken - nothing grand, fabulous or new about it. I would still settle for chicken in any given time of the day.

Or maybe I just expected too much. Maybe the reason why I didn't fowl-y enjoyed the experience, hehehe! (Corny pa rin Ü)

After lunch, our hosts decided to tour us around the woods and the river where we are treated to a nature-tripping escapade. It would have been great if we had seen some deer (not only their tracks), wild hog or any animals with four legs but we sure learned lots about trees and shrubs – sycamores, oaks, chestnuts, pines, moss and even poison ivy. I just can’t remember which is which except that venomous vine.

Still, it turned out to be quite a unique and wonderful experience when the trip is punctuated with a rather surprise appearance of this little wonder – an armadillo! It’s one of the cutest things I ever saw. You have to forgive my taste but I really like these armored cutie and have been dying to see one ever since reading about it in encyclopedia.

I hope to post some pictures soon so you can see for yourself how cute the armadillo is.

Good day everyone. I miss y’all!Ü