My dad is probably somewhere in Mississippi right now, driving east to spend Thanksgiving with me. He'll probably arrive at around 3 a.m., or some ridiculous hour like that, and Montego and I will sleepily greet him and his dog Cici. (Let's just hope that I have enough puppy bagels to keep the dogs off each other's throats. Montego's hard to gauge when it comes to other dog relations, and it's even tougher for me to guess how she'll react to some other animal being her Gramps's favorite.)

I went Krogering today after working a lunch shift and bought things I've never even seen in the grocery store before, like artichoke hearts and a meat thermometer, let alone considered purchasing. I have a feeling I've gotten in way over my head. How do you cook everything with only one oven? These are the worries that plague me.

My mom said "Well, you're going to have a lot of work tomorrow now aren't you?!"

Always supportive, my mom.

(Actually, she is. She's just not really good at hiding her thoughts and pretending that I've made wise choices when she can see right through my arrogance. Or something.)

It's amazing to me how different my life is from year to year. It's still strange to me sometimes, this whole living in Atlanta thing. It hits me at weird times and in unexpected ways how far away I am from my family and from people like Mo and Sara who shaped and defined my post-college years.

But here I am, in this new state and glorious city where I have no ties other than the ones I've created in my past and ones I'm creating now, in this current incarnation of my life.

In some ways I feel like it's easier to figure out what I'm thankful for this year, because so much of the bullshit has been wiped away. I am what I am and I is where I is, you know?

s Montego

s MATH

s new friends

s but old friends even more. They really are the gold.

s a nice apartment, even if sometimes I get crazed wondering how I can afford it.

s a generous family

s sushi

s gingerbread lattes from the evil Starbucks

s good tippers

s free margaritas

s leaves that turn so vibrantly orange that they take your breath away

s smiling, chubby babies

s knowing that the greatest love affair of my life is still ahead of me

s watching stupid t.v. and eating takeaway with friends

s my suede boots because they always make me feel special and beautiful no matter how fat and poor I am

s unexpected cards (especially when they contain money)

s email

s photographs - they're tangible memories, you know

s and of course, gravy

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all. I loves ya.

 

 

---

The notify is exchanging holiday cards.

And the forum is giving thanks.

---

before a index a next