Growing up in a male-dominated household with two sports-crazy brothers and an equally sports-crazy dad, my memories of Thanksgiving are more about football games than roasted turkey and cranberry sauce. Even when I was visiting from college, Thanksgiving Day was organized around the NFL schedule and everyone, including family and friends, took a back seat to Troy Aikman and Barry Sanders.
When I was a kid, we had one TV for the entire house, rather than a TV in every room which is the way it is today. Our TV sat smack in the middle of the family room like a shrine, with chairs and couches grouped around it waiting to pay homage to the latest game show or soap opera. On Thanksgiving Day, the remote was firmly in the possession of my dad. I was lucky if I saw ten minutes of the Macy’s parade before the long grid iron vigil began.
What I would have done for a smartphone and a few apps! In the digital age we are completely spoiled for entertainment options. If we can’t get what we want on the TV, then we’re sure to find it on our computers, tablets, or phones. Movies, TV shows, music, games, and books are all available in limitless quantities, requiring just a high-speed Internet connection and a few clicks.
These days, the TV has become a third or fourth option. Who needs to sit in front of the TV when you can carry the latest episode of Modern Family around in your pocket?
But it’s not just digital entertainment that will keep your Thanksgiving holiday running smoothly. You can use Skype or FaceTime to stay in touch with distant relatives; iCookbook or Epicurious to help in the kitchen; and Amazon Mobile and TGI Black Friday to get ready for the big sales.
But if football is still your Thanksgiving thing, don’t for a moment feel that the digital age is passing you by. Verizon’s NFL Mobile app is a dream come true for any football fan who is on the move and away from the big screen.
As my dad says, Thanksgiving is about the three ‘Fs’ - Family, Food and Football. (Although I’m not sure that was his preferred order!) Today’s technology helps us enjoy all three.
I have been compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.