Mid-November: means falling rainbow leaves, a cold steering wheel in the morning, hot tea that warms from the inside out, falling asleep next to Abby on the couch defeated by the fire’s power, trying to make the BEST cup of deluxe hot chocolate possible (thinking, “maybe this fancy tin is what was missing last time… or maybe it was the cayenne Aaron snuck in at the last second), getting drenched from the pool of precipitation that collects on my beloved Acura, baking treats like in every other season, but most special of all… it means it’s time for Thanksgiving!! Or at least that’s what comes to my mind…
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. To me, it’s the coziest time of year when everyone’s sure to be around spending time together and filling their bellies until they can’t eat anymore… except they can.. just ONE more piece of Uncle Jonny’s delectable pie
Since the days of dressing up like a pilgrim as kids, the meaning of Thanksgiving has developed more and more every year and it is now associated with all of these things that make my heart warm.
It’s easy to think of things I’m thankful for. In fact, right now it would be challenging to think of things I’m not thankful for. I realize now that I take so much for granted, expecting it will always be there… like sidewalks, running water, toilet paper, turning the lights on at night, laundry machines, Qtips, floss, access to free education, the opportunity to travel outside my country, the belief that I can do anything if I work hard, the feeling of safety, the trust I have in other people, and the list goes on.
I remember learning in 7th grade to only use a list one in an essay and only include 3-4 items, or you risk losing the interest of your reader. I just ignored those rules so hopefully I’ve still got your ears.
Perhaps if I attempt to rhyme
You’ll see in time
I have so much I want to share with you all
That’s why this note is a little tall.
Instead of sitting by the fire tonight,
Im on the rooftop with my headlamp on bright.
Its finally cold enough that the mosquitos have gone home (where do they live?)
Which leaves me up here all by my lone
Some might think, but actually I have 52 new friends sound asleep below me
Who make me feel like im a branch on their family tree.
Maybe they’re dreaming of the last time they saw their father
Or maybe of a chance to tone time see the ocean water.
Maybe they wander to a feast of roti treats
Or to a stadium where they are showing off real football cleats!
It seems they are just thankful for each other
Which is no small thing since sometimes they are each other’s mother.
A mother. What a necessary blessing everyone deserves.
It breaks my heart that some don’t have one to share and when they have one that’s just not there, it gets on my nerves.
There’s nothing that can truly replace a mother’s love
Nothing more powerful that can rise above
This year I am most grateful to have had the chance to be a recipient of motherly love, (in my opinion, the top quality kind)
So that I can do my best to reflect it back to the children here I find.
And by find I mean meet/get to know… don’t worry, there are not too many stray children to find Turns out this rhyming thing is a bit of a feat
When accomplished that is.
Makes me think of Aaron, June, and Darrick as more than a wiz…three wizzes!
See, now im off track
But I hope you’ve caught some of my drift even when clarity I lack.
The other thing I am most grateful for is all of you!
There are some ive known my whole life ever since I was a ball of a girl,
Eating Ramen without a sound
Holding a face that looked as though my mind was in a place where “deep, important” thoughts abound.
More likely, I was just enjoying the MSG
And tweety tweet tweeting at me…
Or sitting at the hoses old house in Bellevue looking at that rug with the unearthly soft fur that hung over the stairs
Wanting to touch the top with my eyes closed but too nervous to ask to be picked up high enough.
Some of you ive never even met before
But know that you’re important to me because youre a friend of someone who is a part of my core.
Really, each of you has played a unique role in getting me here,
whether you know it or not,
Its an incredible feeling to just effing do the things that could have become my fear.
Ive come to believe that I can live without being comfortable for a long time…
I can handle squatting when I have to take a dump, pee, or something in between,
I don’t mind using a bucket of cold water to get clean.
All of my belongings fit inside one small cupboard
And there’s even space for a few lizard roommates in there too
At the end of the day, I am enjoying this simplicity
But for sure, I couldn’t do it without your encouragement and energy.
So, THANKS!
I want you all to know that I appreciate you.
Im with you in spirit as you celebrate thanksgiving just as you are with me in my thoughts all the time.
WOAH! I just saw a huge shooting star!
In honor of this shooting star, I want you all to now get up from where you’re sitting and stand in a circle facing each other. Put your arms around each other as if you’re all sharing one giant hug. No need to say anything, just look at each other’s faces and take it in!... until someone gets the giggles or dad starts crying or something
Come back to that feeling you might have at the end of a bonding camp or workshop, a clan celebration at baker lake, the comfort of biting into a chocolate chip cookie that just came out of the oven, smile from the inside out… its bound to warm you up in the rainy season. Remember that we’re all in this crazy life thing together. Now, I’m slipping into dreamland, better go inside before I cant feel my toes, the bottom line is love love love that I send to you
in my mid-slumber.
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