Today’s newsletter is all about gratitude. I want to start by saying how grateful I am for you. Your support keeps this free newsletter thriving, and, because of you, our shows, podcasts, books and everything we create reaches and inspires more people than I ever imagined. Thank you for being a part of this journey. You make it all possible. 🧡

Now, let’s dive into today’s stories and celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving together! — Kim

Thanksgiving has always been about family, tradition and gratitude. I think about my Dad carving the turkey with his large Russian hands, showing me exactly how to do it. My Mom always made the turkey until she couldn’t and I took over. We recorded her making it two weeks before she was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2017, her face and voice with instructions I’ll treasure forever.

Technology has found its way into Thanksgiving, but instead of replacing memories, it adds to them. Here are a few tech things I’m thankful for and how they help me carry a bit of the past into the present.

My iPhone 16 Pro Max

Remember when a quarter for a payphone was your lifeline? Dad would hand me one before I left the house. Today, my iPhone is that, and it’s my camera for capturing memories and having video calls, my connection to family far away, and my assistant to get things done.

Smart speakers

Aunt Patty was the unofficial family entertainer, part comedian and part Patsy Cline wannabe. Dang, she could sing “Crazy.” Today, Alexa has taken on some of those roles, including playing music, telling jokes and answering trivia questions.

Cloud storage

Videos of my Mom are safely stored in the cloud, where I can watch them whenever I want. It’s not just a Thanksgiving Day recipe; it’s her voice, her smile and my heart, forever.

Big-screen TVs

Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without football. I remember when we all crowded around a tiny TV, adjusting the antenna on the roof to get a picture. Now, it’s all about the big screen, where we can see every blade of grass and questionable call in high def.

This one’s not tech

Every Thanksgiving, I pull out my grandmother’s old aluminum roasting pan to make her stuffing. There’s something magical about using the same pan she did, surrounded by the smells and laughter that have filled my family’s kitchens for generations.

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the incredible people who work on this holiday: To the doctors, nurses, EMTs, firefighters, police officers and military personnel who protect and care for us; to the restaurant staff, grocery store workers and delivery drivers who make sure we’re well-fed; to the pilots, flight attendants and transportation workers who help families come together; and to the utility workers and IT professionals who keep us connected. We’re deeply grateful for all that you do to make this day possible for the rest of us.

What about you? What tech (or non-tech) things are you thankful for this year? I’d love to hear your stories. Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!

✅ Stop searching — I did the hard work for you.

• A MacBook Air (23% off) is small enough to fit in a backpack and has up to 18 hours of battery life. That’s a lot of Netflix.
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• Swap their crusty, old phone for a fancy, new Samsung S24 (27% off). It comes in eight colors! I like the violet.
• The most voracious reader you know definitely wants a new Kindle Paperwhite (19% off).
• Catch Santa before he steals all the milk and cookies with a Google Nest outdoor camera (36% off, $209.99).
• The Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is under $75 right now.
• An Amazon Echo Dot is the perfect intro to smart home gear (54% off, $22.99).
• Bet you know someone who’d love a PS5 (15% off, $424). It’s backward compatible so they can play PS4 games, too.
• A Lenovo Chromebook is already affordable, but 40% off? An absolute steal!
• The Fitbit Versa 4 smartwatch (40% off) for your health-obsessed friend.

💸 Or shop by price: Under $10 | Under $25 | Under $50

In case you need a reminder, AI sees what you forget … Here’s ChatGPT’s reply to me. You might want to try this, too.

The Current wouldn’t be The Current without a handy tech tip! Here’s a quick one to help you capture the perfect Thanksgiving moment:

📸 On your iPhone or Android, open the camera app and press the volume-up button to snap a photo instantly. Got the new iPhone 16? Use the action button on the side to open your camera and take a pic in a flash. It’s so easy, you’ll be back at the table before the turkey gets cold!

I’ll see you in your inbox tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA. But for now, I’ve got a pumpkin pie calling my name! 🥧 — Kim