Frugal Café Blog Zone

Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on November 25, 2010

Album cover for the original 1967 album 'Alice's Restaurant' by Arlo Guthrie.

Thanksgiving Day… a day designated for giving thanks to God, and for counting one’s blessings and the bounty given to us by God. And, of course, preparing and sharing a huge feast to share with family and friends, usually with turkey as the main dish.

Some years ago, my family drove to San Diego over the Thanksgiving weekend to go to Sea World and for the kids to see the beach for the first time. I was born and raised in California, but my daughter and son are native desert rats here in Arizona. So, this family trip with its promises of seeing the ocean, collecting seashells, being hit by salty waves of water for the first time was a big, big, big deal for them.

Also, we had not ever before left home nor the state during the Thanksgiving holiday, so as excited as the kids were to be on this adventure, they were also saddened to not be spending it that year with their grandparents and other family members.

During the long car ride to California, Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice Restaurant” came on the radio — the full-length version was played that Thanksgiving. The kids had not ever before heard it. They were fascinated by the bizarre romping tale Guthrie spun. As we listened to this marvel of mesmerizing silliness, bumping along the highway, it occurred to me then that ballads and storytelling in contemporary songs have all but disappeared, as so many other things in our lives have disappeared. But, on the other hand, so many other things remain the same and have deepened, such as love for family, for freedom, and for country. And giving thanks for all of them, because they are all precious and can easily be taken away in the blink of an eye.

But, I digress.

In tribute to Thanksgiving, I offer this illustrated video, an obvious labor of artistic love. Spectacular job by Andrew Culunga, aka Andr3wTime, illustrating Guthrie’s 1960s Thanksgiving classic, “Alice’s Restaurant.” My children still associate this song with our first car ride to the ocean… new, fresh memories linked to an old folk song.

Kick back with a steaming cup of java to listen to it and enjoy — you can get anything you want at Alice’s restaurant…

God bless our troops for keeping our nation safe and God bless America.

And God bless you all — Happy Thanksgiving!

Alice’s Restaurant Illustrated (Part 1)

Alice’s Restaurant Illustrated (Part 2)

Last year’s Frugal Café Thanksgiving Day tributes:

Thanksgiving Art… Artistic Tributes to Thanksgiving, America, and Our Military

Washington’s First Thanksgiving Proclamation

And, the previous year’s tributes:

Happy Thanksgiving, in Our Tattered & Battered 2008

Thanksgiving Eve… Being Thankful

Categories: Entertainment, Celebrities, Holidays and Family, Social and Political Climate, Videos, Audio Files
Tags: 1960s, Alice's Restaurant, Arlo Guthrie, California, country, family, folk song, folk songs, give thanks, giving thanks, Happy Thanksgiving, holiday, music video, patriotism, San Diego, thankful, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving travel, Thanksgiving tribute, video, YouTube