Is it just me or did Thanksgiving really sneak up on us this year? It’s so hard to imagine in just a few days I’ll be seated around the dinner table being prompted into itemizing the ubiquitous “I’m thankful for…” This year Thanksgiving will be at my mom’s house in Santa Barbara, CA which is my favorite place in the world. YAY!!!
Don’t get me wrong. Thanksgiving is a holiday I look forward to every year and most often host it at my home here in NY. It’s the official kick-off to the whole holiday season and most of us are feeling relatively sane and not too stressed yet. If you are someone who regularly hosts Thanksgiving you know that it is a huge amount of effort and, even if you choose to be low key about it, hosting Thanksgiving can be a daunting task .
Let’s face it. Everyone wants to pull out all of the stops for Thanksgiving dinner. We want the food to be so amazing that our guests leave at least 5 pounds heavier and also served at the ideal temperature. Unless you happen to have multiple ovens in your kitchen this is no easy feat. Then there’s the bird. It’s a big one and you have only one chance to get it right. Talk about performance anxiety!
I’m remembering hosting prior Thanksgivings involving impending divorces, complaints about seating arrangements, cooking disasters, drunken guests, dropped desserts, the sometimes inedible dishes that people have shown up with, and political discussions that have turned ugly. A word of advice: Never allow politics to be a dinnertime topic of conversation. End of story. NEVER.
We all live in a world where so many things are totally screwed up. The random serial shootings, the devastation caused by recent hurricanes, sexual predators in Hollywood, the opioid epidemic…the list goes on and on. This year it’s more important than ever to remember all of the many blessings that we have. The wonderful things in life still outnumber the bad.
So this year, when I sit at the table with my family and friends in California, these are some of the many things I’ll be thinking I’m thankful for:
- My husband – Marriage can be a rocky road but we’ve managed to weather some tough storms. The many challenges we’ve faced have made us closer than ever. ?
- My family – This includes my daughter and sons, mom, sisters (including in-law), brother (including in-law), niece and nephew, aunts, uncles and cousins. I may not always be great about keeping in touch with everyone but Thanksgiving is a reminder of that.?
- Memories of my dad
- Good friends who offer wise advice and always have my back; the people who are there for me through good times AND bad.?
- My 17-year old kitty and ruler of my household named Star?
- The gift of scent which brings me constant pleasure and exciting new discoveries?
- Delicious food, especially spicy food or anything containing avocado, cheese, freshly baked bread and nuts of most types
- Wine to go with the delicious food?
- Tennis ?
- Reading great books ?
- Great movies
- The many unsung heroes today and throughout history
- Online shopping. No need to battle the crowds and wait in line on Black Friday anymore. YAY
- Finding the missing earring that I was sure I’d lost?
- My favorite Starbucks drink – Iced caramel macchiato with coconut milk and extra caramel drizzle. Just writing this I need one NOW.
- Random encounters with long lost friends
- Little miracles that happen every day ?
I’m sure I’ll only mention only a few of these at Thanksgiving dinner, though it would be amusing to watch people’s expressions turn from interested to confused/annoyed if I went through the whole list. Hehe. Don’t worry I won’t.
So what about you? If you haven’t given much thought to what you are thankful for why not now? Thanksgiving is the perfect time to tell the people most important to you that you love and appreciate them.
Source: Wikkimedia Commons
Wishing you a warm and happy Thanksgiving,
As I am sure you know, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in UK, nor in Italy where I originally come from. But your post about Thanksgiving, Erica, has delivered an amazing feeling of warmth to me. It has prompted firstly to think about whether and how I would cope to entertain every year and to feed so many people a well cooked bird. Secondly, it has reminded of the many Sunday meals that ended up in dreadful arguments about politics – and which have ended up splitting my Italian family under a bitter rain of recriminations, I am not joking. But thirdly, it has helped me stop and think about what I am thankful for this year. So, here we go: I am thankful for my son, so grown up and clever, very clever; for my husband, and our strength as a couple that helps us weather daily difficulties; my dog Indy, who in spite of all his ailments is still with us, by God’s grace; my family, in spite of it all; my job and my colleagues; my home, and its cosines. And the list could go on forever. Life is not easy. But I am grateful that sometimes we are given a break to stop to realise how wonderful it is.
Giulia,
I’m feeling equally warm from your heartfelt comment and I hear you about the family squabbles. They are almost a part of the tradition weirdly enough.
Cheers to you and your family:)
Erica
Hi, Erica.
I’m from Brazil and there we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.
Since my family and I are now living in the US, your article was very useful for me. So I now know what to expect.
I’ve been thinking about all that I’m grateful for and the list is way too long to write here but especially my family, friends, the opportunity to live in the US, coffee, and wine. 😉
Happy Thanksgiving!
Eliane
Hi Eliane,
Welcome to the US! Brazil is a country I’ve wanted to visit for a while since I’ve heard such great things about it from friends who’ve spent time there. Having a long gratitude list is a very good thing:)
I wish you and your family the happiest of Thanksgivings as well!
Cheers,
Erica
You’re right time really flies in the blink of an eye. As I read your list, I could relate to many of the ones that you wrote down to be thankful for. There was one in particular that really got to me. The one where you mentioned your cat. I am a dog lover and could never ever imagine having a cat.
Low and behold, about three months back the neighbor’s cat took a liking to my wife and my company. We grew so fond of him and vice versa that he now is like our very own pet. I have seen such positivity and life in our house ever since and I am thankful for this little soul to have entered our life.
Oh, by the way, thanks for that advice on keeping politics away from the dinner table. We learned our lesson last year and are going to be cautious this year.
Happy Thanksgiving to You and Your Family
Regards,
Roopesh
Hi Ropesh,
That’s so touching to hear about your neighbor’s cat winning you over:) We grow so attached to our pets over time that they do become a part of the family. Political debates have ruined many a Thanksgiving I’m afraid. Emotions run high during the holidays and it’s just safer to table any political conversations until after the new year.
Thanks for dropping by and Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Erica