HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
In honor of Thanksgiving – once a yank, always a yank – I thought I’d blog today in honor of the American holiday that for the most part I usually forget – it’s the expat disease. It’s one of those holidays where the actual message often gets swallowed up by the amount of food you stuff in your face. You vaguely remember it’s about Indians, and pilgrims and acorn stuffing…and then it dawns on you that that sweet little tale was a complete figment of our history books imaginations, and in truth, the early settlers were probably bashing the poor Indians heads in with stale acorn bread. Yes, the brutal reality of American history.
But not to be too mired down in the macabre, I thought I’d focus today’s blog on giving thanks. After all, that is the part of the holiday that has the positive message, and we all dig that. Giving thanks is one of those things that we should simply do more often. I’m sure many do in form of a prayer before they eat, or a morning mantra, or part of their meditation, but let’s be honest, most of the population is not that evolved. So what better than a day once a year (it should be monthly in my opinion; although eating all the stuffing would make my hips enormous) to truly make you ponder the things for which you are thankful.
For starters of course: the King. I’m thankful for his little roly-poly, smiley, curly haired, charming, mischief-making self. Coupled with that, I’m thankful for my partner who helped me create the little meatball, as he’s pretty damn cute too. I’m thankful for my family for being there always, for putting up with my pop culture addictions, my intricate – and often annoying – writer’s brain, and for the fact that I live half way across the world and yet they have not forgotten me. [Although my sisters suck at skyping. Come on, move into this century people!]
I’m thankful for coffee. Yes, you heard me. It’s a no brainer, but the last sixteen months I would not have survived without it. I’m thankful for all those that have helped out along the way to prevent my partner and me from going insane now that we are parents. You know who you are, and we are eternally thankful. I’m thankful that the Twilight franchise is coming to an end – seriously, enough already. We get it, wolves and vampires hate each other, now sort it out or move back to Transylvania.
I’m thankful that people around the world are finally waking up and telling their governments where to shove it. I’m thankful for our building manager who comes to fix things in our flat whenever they break (seriously, how nice is that?), I’m thankful for dark chocolate, my parents, the fact that my jeans still fit, and that I am healthy, happy and live in one of the best cities in the world. Oh, and I'm thankful for Tim Riggins. [For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, you should. You really should. For those of you that do, let's just savor the moment; shall we (Amelia)].
So I ask you, what are you thankful for? Take a minute and ask yourself, then go tell someone if they’ve helped you out how appreciative you are. Go on, be a yank for a day and give thanks. It’s one of our better ideas as Americans, I assure you.
Happy Thanksgiving all!