What are the Pierson’s thankful for this Thanksgiving? In Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace two key scenes take place over the Thanksgiving weekend. One concerns the difficulty many families experience in bringing everyone together long enough for a family photograph, and the other focuses on mounting concerns that all is not what it seems. 

Even with Pamela causing mischief at seemingly every turn, the Pierson’s are thankful for two things - family and sobriety.

There’s no doubt family and the drama that is often part of “family” can make the sanest individual nuts. But it’s the common blood that binds us and makes us understand our willingness to fight to protect loved ones from harm. We may not always like one another, but there is an undeniable connection in family that blood does indeed run thick. But family is also something to be thankful for.  

Kay and Paul’s struggles with alcohol are a key subplot of the novel, but so is the quest for sobriety. The devastation of drug abuse shows no prejudice, regardless of sex, age, income, education, class, race, or religion. In 2003, the last year for which figures were available, 21.6 million U.S. adults abused alcohol or were alcohol dependent. Those are staggering numbers and just one of the reasons the Pierson’s, like other Americans, are thankful for the gift of sobriety.

After nearly two years of too many campaign stops, too many debates, too many negative ads, and far too much money spent, another change Americans and elected officials should give serious thought to is a vastly shortened election season.

Look no further than the British system - a 10 week campaign season, a vote, and quicker transition period. Research indicates the majority of American voters don’t really begin to pay attention until after Labor Day of a presidential election year, the perfect time for the beginning of a 10 week campaign season.

Political party conventions would take place in late summer as they always have, and only after presidential nominees are chosen would the campaign season begin. A shorter campaign season could make for far more intriguing conventions - delegates would actually have to choose a presidential nominee, rather than simply showing up for a process decided weeks or months in advance. From Labor Day to the first Tuesday in November is more than plenty to time to discuss the issues and select the candidate of your choice.

Other benefits are obvious - fewer campaign dollars raised and spent fewer annoying ads and political telephone messages, less campaign fatigue among candidates and voters. Change is definitely coming, and in January with a new President and Congress in session, one of the first items on the agenda should be a complete revamping of the election season. Ten weeks from start to finish can work. Just ask the Brits.