"Get up let's go get a turkey," isn't exactly a nice wake up call. But that's the way I got up this morning.
I admit I was a little pissed off, but after laughing it off it wasn't so bad.
You see, today was thanksgiving day, and at this point in my life, thanksgiving isn't really a holiday I or my family celebrates anymore. It's kinda impossible seeing as how most of us live in different parts of the country. And, since my Kookum passed away, slowly but surely family gatherings have become more sparse.
It was my roomates Bridget and Kim that woke me. And like I normally do everyday, I sat up in bed and prayed. I'm not a religious person but as soon as I wake, when I eat, and before bed, I say a quick prayer.
Just a small gesture, I believe has carried me through thick and thin. I give thanks for my life and everyone in it. For the accomplishments, the love, and the everyday struggles.
Upon finishing I went into the livingroom to see if the girls were serious. Because, let's be real here, none of us have ever cooked a turkey.
They started talking about how their families are back home eating dinner together and how they do it every thanksgiving.
I could've got mad at them, because I kinda was. I mean, they should just be greatful we have a roof over our head, food in our fridge, and great friends to be around.
But there was something about the looks on their faces that got to me. So I caved and got in the shower. Not without a little fight of course.
They were going on about thanksgiving, food, and family....basically making it out to be a romantical holiday, you know one of those picture perfect things you see in the movies.
Me, feeling slightly irritated because I was woken up kinda rudely and because I envied their stories because my family didn't have that in a long time, I say before I close the bathroom door to go shower, " Thanksgiving is overrated. It died when my Kookum died." And as I closed the door I said, "it's already starting to die for you two."
Upon thinking about it getting ready, I thought to myself, "Kinda harsh Tiar." I thought about my first thanksgiving away and realized that it's a big step, being away from family on a holiday.
Meanwhile around the same time I was deep in thought the girls apparently said (I couldn't hear but they told me later), "If she wants to be miserable, let her be. We will go by ourselves."
I laughed about it at the store when they told me, because it's not that I was trying to rain on their parade, or that I was miserable, because I woke up today far from it.... but my pride wouldn't admit to them that I was envious because they still held the holiday near and dear to their hearts, though they probably sensed it.
Anyway, after much hassle of going last minute shopping for basically everything for a thanksgiving dinner, we came home to cook.
And boy was it the experience! We all don't cook often but when we do cook, we are used to cooking for a family..or an army as we joked...so we made a lot more food than the 3 of us could eat.
But being able to spend an afternoon cooking and chatting with the girls made me realize that holidays should be spent with people we love. I know it's cheesy, but I was glad they made me celebrate.
Like I said, I'm a thankful person, I give thanks all the time, I don't need a date to remind me what I'm thankful for.
But again, I am reminded why days like today exist. It's to remember the little things, the things we sometimes forget about because we're too busy living life.
So today as we prayed together before we ate we all talked about what we were thankful for.
And today, I thanked them for making me do something even though I didn't want to. I also thanked the Creator for my family, my friends, and the people I lost a long the way.
I thanked the Creator for everything that's happened in my life. I focused more on this past year, and gave thanks for losing and then gaining my job back because it taught me some valuable lessons.
And above all I thanked the Creator for the many (hopefully) other days I have on earth and the valuable lessons I'm going to learn.
To everyone out there that I know, I hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving, just like I did, because you all mean the world to me and I want you to have the best (corny, I know!).
And as I write this right now, I'm thankful for knowing, I'll have lots of food for the next couple of days! (and then I'll have my turkey fix until Christmas).
ps- By the looks of the pictures I think it's safe to say, not only did I enjoy it, but so did they. And that's what makes me the happiest of all because they can still have their romantical holiday, only a little more different, but probably more special in the sense that they did it all on their own.
I know I feel like that this very moment =)
