Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. I like that it is a fairly stress-free holiday where you just eat and eat and spend time with loved ones. It also helps that I usually get a few days off of work/school. 


As a kid, I would wake up Thanksgiving morning and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on T.V. with my parents as they were preparing something for dinner later that day. I LOVED seeing all the huge floats go by and watching musical numbers straight off of Broadway being performed. It was always exciting too when Santa showed up at the end! That meant that it was officially the Christmas season which was exciting in itself. 
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I always dreamed of being a Rockette in the parade...
After spending the morning watching the parade, we would spend the day with our extended family. We would spend the morning with my dad's side of the family and have dinner with my mom's. I am blessed with a big extended family and always looked forward spending these holidays with all my cousins.

Once high school rolled around things changed. I could no longer spend my Thanksgiving mornings watching the Macy's Parade. Throughout my four years of high school, my Thanksgiving mornings were spent at the high school football game performing in the marching band. Instead of snuggled up at home watching the parade with my parents, I was marching around a freezing cold football field with 150 other band geeks (who am I kidding? I loved it at the time.) Unfortunately, I can't find any pictures of me in my marching band get-up so I'll spare you (as well as any of my high school friends who may be in any said pictures with me.) 


Even though I now roll my eyes at high school me, I really did enjoy those mornings with the band. I was able to spend the beginning of the holiday with some of my best friends and look forward to a delicious meal with family later in the day. Back then, I always thought I would be one of those people who would continue to go to the high school football game every Thanksgiving to catch up with old acquaintances and cheer on the home team. Seven years later however, I have been to exactly zero. I guess the Macy's Parade on my couch is just more appealing than cold, awkward encounters at a football game I don't really care about.


When college came along, Thanksgiving weekend was a time to reunite with old friends and family. Most of us were home on a quick break from school. At this time, my group of girlfriends and I began a tradition we called "Take-Out Thanksgiving." At take out Thanksgiving, we got together the night before Thanksgiving and ordered take out from all of our favorite take out places around town that we had been missing while away at school. It was always a great time to catch up on what is going on in all of our separate lives and to stuff our faces (like we needed that with a big meal the next night!)
the group of us at TOTG '06

...I guess we made pilgrim and Native American hats that year...

a few friends at TOTG '07...look at all that grease...
Around this time, there was a shift in my family Thanksgiving as well. After years of my Mimi hosting Thanksgiving, my aunt decided to give her a break and start having it at her house. It didn't really matter to anyone where Thanksgiving dinner would be held. After all, all that matters is that the whole family is together. However, it is a bit humorous where at my aunt's house Thanksgiving dinner is now held. 

I know you probably can't tell from this picture but this was taken in a garage. Yes, Thanksgiving dinner is now held in a garage. My aunt and uncle converted their garage into a party space and since our family is too big to fit in anyone room in the house, the garage it is! Even though it is a bit unconventional, it works out great. We are now able to all sit at one big table as a family for Thanksgiving dinner. 

Now that I am married, Thanksgiving has changed once again. Hubs and I have decided to alternate years with each other's families. This year we are going to Vermont to spend Thanksgiving with his family. It is my first Thanksgiving away from my family but I am looking forward to it. I love spending time with all of them and I look forward to making new traditions and memories with my new family branch! 

Even though I am generally quite a creature of habit, Thanksgiving has taught me that, it doesn't matter whether or not the same traditions are practiced every year. I have learned that no matter what I am doing, being with the people I love and who love me back is all that matters to me. I truly have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

2 comments:

  1. We shall miss you this year! have fun in Vermont!

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  2. Hi,
    I am writing a book called "So...How Did You Meet Anyway?" It is a collection of people's "how we met" stories.
    I have posted the stories which have been sent in on;
    So...How Did You Meet Anyway?
    http://wwwsohowdidyoumeet.blogspot.com/
    I am always shopping for stories and I would like to add yours. Please check out the site, and if you would like to contribute your "how we met" story contact me at;
    susan.amestoy@gmail.com
    And...I am a Vermonter! Right now I am living and working in Europe, but our home is in Central Vermont. I hope you enjoyed visiting over Thanksgiving. I was really homesick for my Waterbury Center home.
    Congratulations. Hope to hear from you soon.
    Susan

    ReplyDelete