The Thanksgiving traditions might seem a little strained this year. That’s OK.

Some of the foods we all love and look forward to all year might be missing from the holiday table, or just more difficult to acquire this year. Last week’s ice storm and blackout forced some grocery outlets to throw away vast quantities of food — including key elements of the Thanksgiving feast — for many households.

Of course, going without heat meant going without laundry, without cleaning and other preparations for the big family holiday.

And as always this time of year, unpredictable weather makes a mockery of travel plans for many. Wednesday’s forecast is for more freezing rain turning to snow. Many will cast aside worries and will travel anyway; others will cancel. The bright sunshine forecast for Thursday will mock their decision not to venture out.

The inevitable result will an overflow of guests at some tables, empty seats at others.

Somehow, there will be enough to feed the crowds. There will be an abundance of good cheer and warmth, leftovers to take home or make sandwiches to enjoy while watching football games later in the day.

This year there should be an abundance of thanks for special reasons. We’re all grateful for the emergency workers who put in countless hours opening roads, removing downed trees and repairing power and cable lines.

We’re grateful for those who opened and maintained the warming shelters when people who suddenly found themselves with cold, dark households needed temporary shelter.

We’re grateful for the patience and generosity of friends and neighbors who looked out for each other in countless ways, from offering a place to stay or a meal, to simply being cautious when approaching an intersection where the traffic light isn’t working.

It’s important that we hold onto this spirit of looking out for one another. Maybe we should just hang onto the theme through the holiday season, maybe even beyond that.

Finally, we’re grateful — or we should be — for the reminder that we ought be prepared for calamitous situations like a power failure. This time, it happened during a season neither too hot nor too cold. We were not so much subjected to suffering as we were inconvenienced.

And what if it were extremely hot or cold? What if there were more dire circumstances. What if there were actual suffering? Are we prepared?

It’s a good time to evaluate what happened this past week and consider how to improve our collective response.

And give thanks for the opportunity to do an even better job next time.