Thanksgiving!!!

I finished my blog & paper TWO days early. Feeling accomplished 
In anticipation of the upcoming Thanksgiving break, that’s what I’m going to blog about! I realllllly can’t wait to spend a whole week at home! Normally, I just go home for the weekend but that doesn’t give you a chance to settle in or anything. Most of the time I don’t even unpack my bag because I know I’ll be leaving a short 48 hours later. Another problem that this short break poses is that I never have enough time to accomplish anything. I have to balance spending time with my friends versus spending time at home with my family. And the last couple times my friends have won out which makes me feel like I’m neglecting my family. It’s just a no win situation. But all of that will be solved over this week long break! It gives me time to study for my chem lab final, spend time with my family, and my friends. In fact, there is a whole day over the break dedicated to family. That day would be thanksgiving.
My thanksgiving day is one of favorite holidays! It’s a day where you can just feast & feast & feast all day. I love to eat so this is just the perfect holiday for me. Thanksgiving is also the one day of the year that I like to get up early. Even though I’m 18, I love waking up to see the Macy’s Day parade. In recent years I think that viewership has declined but I still love it and I hope they do not take it off of TV! It’s just so fun to me to watch this huge parade and it is one of my goals to go & see it in perfect one day! EVEN BETTER, I would love to be in it! Omg that would be amazing. But I don’t think that’s going to happen so I’ll just stick to trying to get tickets. But I think they’re really expensive which is sad. Anyways, I do not understand how people don’t like this parade. It’s so historic and big. I think it’s the biggest parade in the world, it lasts 3 freaking hours! It’s just such a tradition for me that I can’t imagine a thanksgiving not watching it. It’s great to wake up in the morning, watch the parade, and smell the food cooking in the house.
I’m sure the way that I experience thanksgiving is not the way that others may celebrate it. For starts, both of my parents are only children so I do not have a lot of aunts and uncles. Secondly, my parents are divorced and hate each other, so I get to have thanksgiving twice, which I do not mind. So I live with my mom (when I’m not in college) so logically that is where I start my day. I wake up, watch the parade and maybe help cook a little. Normally, the only people at our dinner are my mom, my younger brother, my grandma, my great aunt, & I. I like it that way because it makes me feel close to them. Last year was the first time that thanksgiving was held at our house and I was not happy about it. Normally it is at my grandma’s house, but about a month before thanksgiving last year, my great grandma passed away. And with her passing away so close to the holidays, it was a little hard for us to eat in the house that she shared with my grandma. But it definitely wasn’t the same, which was hard for me. I’m one of those people who really values tradition and having it at my house really bothered me. It’s not as cozy for one. My house is pretty modern & large & open, like most houses built this century. But my grandma’s house on the other hand is smaller and cozier. It was probably built in the 1950’s or something so even the architecture is different. But all in all it was special because I got to spend time with my family.
As every child of divorced parents knows, you try not to choose a favorite parent. But sometimes you just can’t help it. My mom & her family is definitely my favorite by far. The reason is because I grew up around her family more so than my dad’s. My parents have been divorced ever since I was 7, so it’s not like its new or anything. After the separation, my mom, brother, & I moved from Richmond to Hampton. Hampton is about 10 minutes from my maternal grandma & 15 from my paternal. And somehow, I managed to spend most of my “grandparent” time with my maternal grandma & great grandma. They basically took the place of my dad in my life. So I do not feel like a guest when I visit the house. I don’t hesitate to take my shoes off and open the refrigerator like I live there.
But anyways, thanksgiving at my paternal grandma’s house is much more awkward. I don’t really like the way she cooks as much and I also don’t know her as well. I sometimes feel bad that I haven’t put as much into our relationship as I should have especially now that she is getting older. The only people who normally eat there are my grandma, step grandpa Mack, my dad, my younger brother, my dad, Mack’s sister, & myself. It’s pretty awkward for the most part. After dinner we all gather around the television and watch football. I always root for my boys (Dallas Cowboys)! This is really the only time that all of us interact together. Sometimes my two families eat at the same time (and we always start off at my mom’s simply because we’re there) so we come after everybody else has already eaten.
But despite all of my family drama, I’m super excited for this upcoming break & holiday.



Thats a pic of charlie brown at his thanksgiving dinner! its another one of my holiday favorites! i have it on dvd just in case i miss it on tv :):):):):)