"Something to remember for Thanksgiving" by Mary Schmich
1.  The writer wants the reader to feel thankful for what they have while reading this column.  She didn't have much as a kid and she know that, but she wanted the Nutty Buddy.  Even though she got it she did not realize how much that meant to her until later in her life.  You should realize now that in your life there are things you really value and you should value them instead of just wanting more and more and more.  Money does not buy happiness.  You need to remember this especially when Thanksgiving comes by: "This week begins the official giving season, a season that also comes with wishing, expecting, demanding. There's a temptation to feel that what we get, or what we give, is never quite enough."  You need to be thankful.
2.  The writer wants the audience to remember "that no matter how little you think you have, there's always enough to give some away, and no matter how little you think you've gotten, you may understand later that it was huge."  Even though her dad did not have that much money he still gave some away to his daughter so she could buy an ice cream bar. "He was standing up, fishing in his pants pocket. He pulled out some change, counted it in his palm, pressed it into one of mine."  This meant so much to her but she did not even realize it.  She took it for nothing but now many many years later she realized it actually meant a lot.  That is the main message that she really wants to stick with you. 
3.  The purpose of the column is to show people that you should be thankful for what you have and you should not take things for granite.  "This week begins the official giving season, a season that also comes with wishing, expecting, demanding. There's a temptation to feel that what we get, or what we give, is never quite enough.  I don't agree that poverty is entirely a state of mind, but I know what my father meant. And part of what he meant is that no matter how little you think you have, there's always enough to give some away, and no matter how little you think you've gotten, you may understand later that it was huge."  Again she had nothing but when she got something she was really happy.  You can not always want the newest or next thing.  You need to be thankful for what you have because there is someone out there who does not have what you have.  There is also things in life that you do not think mean much but they actually will at some point.  Even if you do not have much money you still have some to give away and help other people.  Be thankful.
4.  Schmich uses syntax and diction very well.  She uses the word jostling to give a vivid image of what this day was really like.  "A couple of my brothers were in the jostling crowd".  She uses the word vista to make her view sound fancy.  "Suddenly, from my porch vista,".  She uses words like scurrying to really make a vivid scene.  "I was scurrying away, elated and mystified, afraid the ice cream man would escape before this miracle came to fruition."  She uses a lot of repetition like "Suddenly, from my porch vista, I wanted a Nutty Buddy like I'd never wanted a Nutty Buddy before, like I'd never wanted anything. I deserved a Nutty Buddy. I would demand a Nutty Buddy." and also  There were things you weren't allowed to do in my father's house. Curse. Lie. Leave lights on in empty rooms or dirty dishes in the sink. Of all the sins, the greatest was talking back, so I spun on my flip-flopped heel to get out of there, and fast."  She mostly uses repetition to make her point.
5.  This is very valuable to society because it teaches a valuable lesson most kids have not learned yet: be thankful for what you have.  Things are valuable and you need to respect them.  "And part of what he meant is that no matter how little you think you have, there's always enough to give some away, and no matter how little you think you've gotten, you may understand later that it was huge."  It shows that she believes they are a lot of people that need to work on this but at the same time she thinks that they can work on them.  People in our society need to be reminded that they need to be thankful, this column helps reinforce that.  There is always someone out there that does not have what you have so show gratitude and be thankful.