Five Things I Will Remember

Thanksgivings sometimes tend to blur together. There’s always turkey, there’s always stuffing and there’s always an obscene amount of pie. I’m always at the kids table, now for the fact that it is simply more fun. I am joined on all sides by cousins, both older and younger and we always clear our plates and get seconds on the stuffing. But some years stick out more than others and these are the things I remember and will treasure about this year.

1. “The Dog Days are Over” So I guess my little cousin Lucas is a Florence and the Machine fan. Lucas is almost three. He arrived carrying two green apples and precocious expression on his face. He wore a red button down sweater that  he quickly shed when he started dancing to “The Dog Days Are Over”. He was the center of everyone’s attention the first four times the song played. Then Dad made us bring it into the living room and away from the poker game. 

2. Laughing and making so much noise I barely heard the doorbell when Justin showed up.

3. Discussing books with my Aunt Moostie. I have several aunts on my Dad’s side and I really enjoy talking with all of them. While my Aunt Jeanette carefully took down Justin’s special sauce recipe (he has created a delicious sauce which I guess is what happens when your dad was a chef) my Aunt Moostie and I bonded over books. My Aunt Moostie likes self-help books which I’ve always had a thing for. This time I recommended The Glass Castle. Not a self-help book but I did find it inspirational.

4. Espresso martinis. My cousin is a bartender and she made everybody espresso martinis in fancy glasses. She even made me a salted caramel drink that was purely coffee and sugar (no alcohol). I noticed that Suzanne makes an effort to include me and makes me feel like I belong because I feel like that sometimes even around famile.

5. Justin and I did go Black Friday shopping (we went to Barnes and Nobles and because it was in a strip mall not a mall mall we were spared the insanity) but we also watched Planes, Trains and Automobiles which was a first for me. It has Steve Martin and John Candy and they both do a phenomenal job of making you laugh (and at one point making you cry).  

I know it’s Saturday. I’m writing because I know I took yesterday off. Oh yeah and because I’m a workaholic.