The real Squanto was no simple backwoods fellow, but a man of the world. In Squanto’s day, the New England coast was very active, with English explorers and merchants collecting lucrative saleable cargos, including furs, timber and human beings.

Yes, Squanto had been around. He traveled to England in 1605 of his own free will with an exploring party under Captain George Weymouth, returning in 16i4 with Captain John Smith. Soon afterward, he and 26 other Patuxet and Nauset Indians were kidnapped by Captain Thomas Hunt and sold in the slave market at Malaga, a coastal city in southern Spain.

Aided by kindly friars, Squanto was returned to Plymouth Harbor by the exploring party of English Captain Thomas Dermer, only to discover that while he was gone plague had killed off all the rest of his tribe. When the Pilgrims showed up six months later, Squanto latched right on to them. He helped them to deal with local tribes, acting as translator and go-between. And yes, he really did save them from starvation by teaching them to plant corn, using fish for fertilizer.

Remember sitting at your school desk, cutting out Pilgrim paper dolls, all dressed in black and gray? We were misled. We could have used the colored construction paper! The Pilgrims usually wore russet brown and Lincoln green, typical of the English lower class from whence they came, but they had nothing against donning their gay apparel now and again. Records show that ruling elder William Brewster boasted a red cap, a white cap, a quilted cap and a lace cap, a violet coat and a pair of green drawers. It was the Puritans, not the Pilgrims, who outlawed “gay attire.”

Not all of those aboard the Mayflower came to the New World in search of religious freedom. Many came to seek their fortunes. If it weren’t for misfortune, they would have had no fortune at all, some of them. Think about that long, perilous voyage. The hardships they endured. No matter how bad things were for them in England, it must have been a huge decision to board that ship and set off for America.

I wonder how my ancestor, John Howland, the only man, woman or child to fall off the Mayflower, decided to take the cruise? Did the flip of a farthing change history?

Then again, probably John Howland didn’t have a choice, since he was an indentured servant, a man who could be bought and sold by his employer until his term was up. I am thankful that the crew fished him out of the ocean, or I wouldn’t be sitting here at the computer today setting everybody straight about our great American holiday.

We Americans are all pioneers, or descendants of pioneers, even those of us who, like Squanto, are Native Americans. I’ll bet that crossing the land bridge a step or two ahead of the glaciers during the Ice Age wasn’t that much fun. But that’s pioneer spirit for you.

For every pioneer there must be thousands who stay put. I’m not so sure I would have been climbing aboard the Mayflower or hopping on a covered wagon headed west. Hey, good luck, I’ll be along as soon as I finish my column and have a nap. You all just go on without me and I’ll catch up.

There will always be pioneers. Some are gamblers, some reckless and feckless, some just young and adventurous. Some tag along because they’re in love with gamblers and adventurers. Others are desperate.

Thanksgiving used to be celebrated in New England during Indian summer until Abraham Lincoln officially set the date as the last Thursday in November.

I imagine that the Pilgrim foremothers worked hard to make the feast a success and tried to make everything look as nice and organized as possible, considering. They’d been through a lot since leaving England. At the first Thanksgiving, 90 Indian braves unexpectedly joined the Pilgrim feast, contributing game and fish. These days we still strive to be spruced up and ready for company. That’s not all bad, because even if the guests don’t arrive, you’ll still have your house cleaned up.

Since I’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving at somebody else’s house this year, it really isn’t relevant. I’m thankful for that.

Feasting is good. Happy Thanksgiving!