It's coming up on 7.00 PM here in London and I am not full. Actually, I am pretty damn hungry. Today I ate a bowl of cereal, an apple, and a chocolate cupcake. This is not some kind of radical diet (although I will admit that last year's cupcake and wine diet did wonders--really--for my waistline). No, this general lack of food, even on America's great feasting holiday, is merely the function of being too busy to eat.
I have to admit that I completely forgot about Thanksgiving. I had considered making a pumpkin pie, and was certainly going to make a trip to Waitrose to see if I could stock up on tins of pumpkin. But then I forgot. I had to clean the house, walk the dog, pack for the weekend...I spaced it!
But I did have a nice surprise during my daily walk through Richmond Park. Moose, in all of his adorableness, started a conversation with a nice American couple. Yes, the conversation was littered with a few demands on my part that Moose stop jumping up on his new friends. But it also involved a very warm, very surprising wish of a Happy Thanksgiving.
It got me thinking. Is it really Thanksgiving if I don't spend the whole day cooking a meal that will later make me feel ill? Is it Thanksgiving without the pies? The traditional Nichols family cheese grits? The drunken cranberries (which I hate but always put on my plate and ignore)?
I think my answer is no. Thanksgiving is stupid.
But that doesn't mean that I have not spent at least part of today thinking about what it is that I am thankful for. I am thankful, first and foremost, for having a wonderful, loving family. And I am thankful that even though it is painful to be away from my family, I HAVE a family to miss. I am thankful for the most wonderful boyfriend, best friend, and partner anyone could ever have. And I am thankful for Moose, even though he makes life a little more...er...colorful than usual. I am also thankful that my other baby, my darling doggie, Lander, is being well looked after by my parents. I am thankful for wonderful friends, wonderful opportunities, and the wonderful days that have made up this past year.
Thanksgiving IS a stupid holiday. But I will admit that it isn't stupid to take some time to think about the good things. There are a lot of good things in my life.
So for all of you who ARE eating an insane amount of food today: Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your meal. Don't drink too much!
And I love you all.
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