Sad and Beautiful World (Original Blog 2004-2008): Day Twenty-Three: Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't know what I was thinking not doing a blog entry earlier today before I did anything else! I ended up out all day and evening, now it is 11pm and I'm so freaking full and so tired and sleepy!

It was a lovely day though. I went to the big meeting I've been going to for the last eleven years and thought about each time I had been there (the first time being newly sober and very pregnant). Just going into that room makes me instantly happy and grateful. The topic is always "Gratitude" for Thanksgiving, of course, and it was just heart-swelling kind of stuff. I also got to see many friends I don't see often anymore. A real spiritual re-charge of my batteries. That was 12:30 until almost 2.

Then I went over to my parents where my Aunt and Uncle (father's sister..the famous Aunt B!) were there already and I began what was to be constant eating for the next several hours. I took Aunt B. with me to go get Pete around 4pm so she could visit with the doggies for a bit, then back to my parents where I continued eating.

Cecily, Charlie, and Tori arrived just after 5pm and we all fawned and cooed over Tori and took photos and then finally we decided to sit down to dinner. We are very casual in my house--no nonsense when it comes to food. We just want to eat it, so we dug in. Turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, asparagus, brussels sprouts sauteed in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese, and of course--Aunt B.'s famous kugel, about which I've gushed on here before. I could make it, but it wouldn't be the same and it wouldn't be as special each Thanksgiving when we beg her to make extra and she teases us that she is going to do something weird to it. I ate far too much of it for one sitting combined with all that other food.

Then of course we had two different cakes for dessert and fruit and coffee and I really thought I might need a stomach pump at one point, but I think I may pull through.

I have so much to be grateful for, and each year the list grows longer and gets better and better. I hope your lists are growing too (whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not) and that you enjoyed your day!

I must crawl into bed now. Here is one photo as a treat....my father and Tori at the dinner table. My father is Tori's adopted "Papa," a role he gladly volunteered for. Babies always love him and it works out well because it turns out he loves every baby. ;-)