Day # 11, 544: Happy Thanksgivnukkah, y’all!
I trust you are either elbow-deep in a turkey’s innards (or a jiggly tofurkey, if you’re an herbivore like me) or pulling out your menorah and frying up some sweet potato latkes.
Or both!
In between all that holiday prepping, I hope you have a moment or two to reflect on the things in your life for which you’re grateful.
While I’m not a huge fan of Thanksgiving food (Correction: wasn’t a huge fan of Thanksgiving food until this year when Mr. M & I offered to host the festivities at our house, and I got to make all the yummy things I always thought deserved to make the T-Day starting line-up. Hit the showers, gravy… you sloppy. Baked mac & cheese, you’re in.), I love the holiday itself.
My family has a tradition that we all go around and say the one thing that year for which we’re most thankful; which means there are a whole lot of “loved ones” & “our health” answers because you can’t say things like “the creation of the 31 oz. Trenta Size at Starbucks” when you only get One.
Although last year after Hurricane Sandy, I may have had a bonus +1 because “running water” really deserves a shout out every now & again.
So here is my Extended Remix, More-Than-One 2013 list, in no particular order.
** I’m thankful for 15 years with my Mr. M, who puts up with more nonsense than any sane human should and, for reasons unbeknownst to me, keeps coming back for more.
** I’m thankful for our new home in Southern California. And thankful for the opportunity to have experienced living in very different places, as well.
** I’m thankful for my fur beast, Charlie Mae. Most of the time. (One more mauled shoe, and she’s off the list. One more.)
** I’m thankful for almond milk. Which is somehow infinitely less gross to me than liquid squeezed from a cow, with half the calories.
** I’m thankful for my bike and the places it allows me to experience.
** I’m thankful for my crazy supportive, always-up-for-a-good-time collection of loved ones. (See above, aunt who spontaneously bikes 30+ miles just cuz.)
** I’m thankful for the invention of sunglasses because really, imagine if there were no sunglasses. It would hurt.
** I’m thankful for my health. And thankful for my sturdy, oft-beleaguered legs that let me do things like run off all some of the sweets I scarf down and bike and have impromptu dance parties with Sister S.
** I’m thankful for the opportunity that I’ve been given to explore and for the education that I’ve obtained through travel.
** I’m thankful for all the truly fantastic online friends that I’ve come to know through blogging. Thank you for reading, listening, supporting, engaging, and sharing in this treasured part of my life. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to get to know you.
(Maybe this should include a secondary thankful for the invention of the internet? Thank you, Al Gore?)
** And finally… yes… I (and everyone who has to spend their days anywhere near me) am thankful for ginormous iced coffees from Starbucks.
But around the dinner table tonight, because we each only get one, this’ll all come out something like: I’m thankful for the health & happiness of each and every one of my loved ones. Because without that, the rest just doesn’t matter.
Disclaimer: It goes without saying that I’m also thankful for all the huge things that would be ranked in the Top Ten slots like knowing I won’t go hungry and having a place to sleep at night and living in a place where my gender does not relegate me to the status of Thing.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Jenn! I hope you had a wonderful celebration, too!
Cranberry Old-Fashioned? I'm missing out!
We missed you!! And not just cranberry old-fashioneds, but also missed penis-shaped biscuits... De & I waited to see how long it would take for the family to notice they were obscene. Tutu thought they were Christmas-themed candy canes.
Hope you had an awesome Thanksgiving... it looked pretty delicious!! I suck and am just getting caught up on posts now... had family visiting from out of town this weekend. I was playing an online version of Family Feud a few years ago. I was surprised that, when asked 'what is Al Gore famous for', no one answered 'invented the internet'... well, except me, apparently. Zero points.
Thanksgiving = success! We were nervous since it was our first time hosting, but there was lots of yummy food & zero grease fires. Success! I hope you had fun with your out of town guests... and that they appreciated your perfectly cooked turkey. If they didn't, send them my way. Tofurkey suddenly makes normal people very appreciative of good food. That is so funny about Al Gore! Really? For me, "inventing the internet" is kind of tied with "vice-president" in terms of his legacy!
Oh! Also, I replied to your message... but I'm afraid it might have went to spam because my emails always go to spam. So check if you didn't get anything from me in your gmail ;)
ignore this comment.
Ignored! ;)