Day brings turkey, pigskin and many thanks

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Thanksgiving Day 2007 arrived with the usual menu of turkey, football, friends and family. On tap for dessert: naps.

Those lucky enough to have reached their travel destinations had reason to be thankful. But even those still en route were treated to fairly smooth sailing at the nation's airports. The Federal Aviation Administration reported few delays at the nation's major air hubs.

In the drought-stricken Southeast, early risers were thankful Thursday to hear the rare sound of raindrops on the roof. But forecasters say it will take a lot more precipitation to ease the drought's severity.

In New York, kids of all ages gathered for the 81st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade this year featured three new balloons -- Shrek, Abby Cadabby and Hello Kitty Supercute. Don't know who they are? Consult the kids' table over in the corner. Watch Shrek float down the street »

And then there's the turkey -- lots of turkey. According to the National Turkey Federation, the average person consumed 16.9 pounds of turkey in 2006.

The federation also says that last year, about 262 million turkeys were raised. And 46 million of those birds were eaten at Thanksgiving.

Another turkey tidbit from the federation: Wild turkeys can fly for short distances up to 55 miles per hour. No documentation is available on how quickly it flies off the dinner platter.

And just in case you encounter turkey trouble in the kitchen, there's a hot line you can call. Watch "turkey gurus" offer assistance by phone »

Pro football offers up several Thanksgiving Day games. The Green Bay Packers will take on the Detroit Lions; the New York Jets will tangle with the Dallas Cowboys; and, in a night game, the Indianapolis Colts will face the Atlanta Falcons. On the college gridiron, Arizona State tackles USC.

President Bush started off his Thanksgiving celebration by spending an hour in the early morning calling 12 members of the U.S. military around the world, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino told reporters.

Most of the calls went to service members in Iraq, Perino said. At least one went to a U.S. military member in Afghanistan, and the others were spread around the globe, she added.

"I can't tell you how impressed I am by the concern and compassion of the troops," Bush told the military personnel in the calls, according to Perino.

"It's a great sacrifice to be away from your children and if it wasn't a noble cause he would not ask them to do it," she said. "He knows that it's tough work, but it's necessary work and he is proud of them."

In Baghdad, Iraq, members of the U.S. military celebrated Thanksgiving despite mortar rounds landing in the fortified "Green Zone." No casualties were reported. Watch men and women in uniform send Thanksgiving messages »

Meanwhile, for those intent on getting a jump on their holiday shopping, several major retailers were opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day. But most businesses were looking ahead to Friday, traditionally one of the year's biggest shopping days, in hopes that their cash registers will be busy.

The day after Thanksgiving is dubbed "Black Friday" because it has traditionally marked the day when retailers finally move out of the red, indicating losses, and into the black, representing profits.

In Southern California, where wildfires scorched tens of thousands of acres in October, Julie and Hobby Perry are still dealing with the loss of their home.

But despite their heartbreak, the Perrys and their children say they are thankful on this holiday. For the flames took only their possessions, not their spirit or their love for one another.

"I'm thankful that we still have our family," says teenager Kelsey Perry. "And we're going to be together and help each other through this."

And, perhaps next Thanksgiving, they will enjoy a turkey dinner in their rebuilt home. E-mail to a friend