The Give and The Thanks
Old and new traditions...
It's a rainy Thanksgiving morning in Jonesborough, TN. From my parents' kitchen table, I glimpse the Macy's parade playing on the TV to my left and a serene farm pasture with rolling, tree-lined hills still ablaze with fall colors to my right. My mom is trying to shake off a lingering COVID infection in bed, Charlie is driving to Kingsport to skate, and my stepdad is rummaging through the snacks I brought.
We came here yesterday to see my parents, eager to reunite with them and one of our dogs who’d been in their care. My stepdad was going to cook, but COVID hit both my parents while we were away. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. When my parents lived in Florida, I’d happily make the 10-hour drive from Asheville just to spend it with them. My stepdad’s stuffing is unmatched, and I love being part of the cooking process. Is it weird that I love the sound of an electric carving knife? That’s how much I love Thanksgiving.
Every Thanksgiving, my beloved Detroit Lions take the field—a tradition I've cherished for as long as I can remember. One year, while visiting my parents in Florida, I stumbled upon a costume shop next to the grocery store. Inside, there it was: a Megatron costume. At the time, Calvin Johnson—nicknamed Megatron—was my favorite Lions player. Did I buy the costume and wear it all day on Thanksgiving? Absolutely.
Do I know why I'm like this? Not really. The costume has since enjoyed a second life as a festive ensemble for numerous SantaCon gatherings, proving its versatility and my enduring commitment to quirky traditions.
It feels good to be home—or "homish," since I'm not in Asheville. We returned from our honeymoon late Tuesday night after a long day of travel, welcomed by a clean house, fresh flowers (thanks to our wonderful dog sitter Stephanie and friend Rodney), and two very happy dogs.
I expected Asheville to look much the same as when we left, and it did. The local NPR station is still airing hurricane relief updates with city and county officials. We were pleasantly surprised to hear that water service was restored to Asheville—52 days after the storm. Initially, it wasn’t expected to return until mid-December.
Traveling through the Caribbean was a sobering experience, seeing the lingering devastation of Hurricane Irma from 2017. On every island, we passed buildings that will never be restored. Yet, despite their own hardships, the locals we met showed incredible empathy when they learned about our situation.
The need here remains immense. If you're from out of town and tired of hearing that, believe me, I'm tired of saying it. But I'll keep saying it until the need is gone. I know it sounds like a broken record, but as the news cycle moves on, our community has no choice but to keep advocating for itself. What other option do we have?
The good news is there's a fantastic way to support our community this holiday season. Western North Carolina is home to so many talented independent creators, making it the perfect place to find unique gifts while giving back. I'll share some great websites to explore, along with a few of my favorite companies and products below. Happy shopping!
WNC Holiday Gift Guides
Love Asheville From Afar - 743 businesses are listed on here, from restaurants, crafters, services, tours, and more.
Visit Madison County - Retail, art, services, health and wellness, and food companies based in Madison County.
Gift Haywood - Links to businesses based in Haywood County, complete with curated shopping guides for the trendsetter, foodie, or creative soul on your shopping list.
Some Personal Favorites
Edwin Salas Art - (CW: definitely not kid-friendly) Very cool, sometimes creepy. He was hit pretty hard by the storm. I bought one of these Asheville Will Survive t-shirts.
Noir Collective - They represent 13 local entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses and counting. They have a variety of products including original art & prints, photography, shea butter, apparel, artisan soaps and more.
Asheville Goods - This a great way to get a sampling of local companies and support a variety of businesses with one purchase.
Candice Hensley Ceramics - From dragon eggs to drinking vessels, Candice makes some really beautiful pieces.
All Around Artsy - I’ve been a fan of Kira Bursky for a long time. I’m really loving her Hurricane Helene prints and she’s donating a portion of the proceeds to relief. She also makes interesting films, and vibrant clothing.
Shining Rock Goods - Bags, totes, wallets, belts, buckles, jewelry and more. All handcrafted in downtown Asheville.
Food and Beverage Gifts and Gift Certificates
Western North Carolina boasts a myriad of independently owned restaurants, breweries, and distilleries. Supporting them by purchasing gift certificates is a great way to help. Before my honeymoon, I read that only 22% of restaurants were open. We didn't have clean water for 52 days. Operating under such conditions is incredibly challenging. You can give the gift card away or save it for your next trip to Asheville.
Asheville Food Tours - What’s better than getting a walking tour of a number of restaurants from a local?
Asheville Tea Company - The building they use to blend and package their teas was completely lost. I absolutely love their teas and we always stock Echo Mountain Recording with them for clients.
The Marketplace - Fun fact: 26 years ago, I used to wash climbing gym holds in their dishwasher. It's also where Charlie and I had our first date. Chef and owner, William Dissen, recently published a cookbook called Thoughtful Cooking that would make a great gift.
Sunny Point - One of the best breakfasts in town—and their site is filled with all kinds of homemade goodies for sale.
Cultivated Cocktails - They have these killer cocktail kits that you can buy online that make amazing gifts.
Eda Rhyne Distilling Company - These folks were significantly impacted by the hurricane. They have a Hurricane Holiday Relief Wine Box Fundraiser currently happening. They have some pretty good merch too.
I have so much to be thankful for. I appreciate you for reading and for any support you give to our community. Supporting local businesses—whether in WNC or your own community—is a meaningful tradition to embrace, if you haven’t already. I hope you find some great gifts for those near and dear to you. And I hope you buy something for yourself too.
Go Lions.