Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I have been meaning to write this post for the past few days, and even today I am a bit tired and a wee bit cranky, but I am going to see how it goes.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so many, wonderful things!  The four-day weekend started off with a nice surprise to get me in the Christmas spirit. On my way home from work I was checking my Facebook (like everyone does) while waiting at the terribly long light to exit I-75.  My friend Ann Atomic had received a free turkey from her work, but was not planning on cooking it and was looking for someone to take it off her hands.  My family has continued to grow over the past years, and yet we continue to cook the same size turkey.  I figured what they hey, I can get this one from Ann, and bring Mike's turkey cooker to my sisters and then we'll have enough, if not extra.  Well, I called up Ann and we figured out a way to meet and for me to pick up the turkey from her. During the conversation I mentioned that I was near a local nursery and she asked if I could take a look at the living trees and just let her know the costs and what types they had.  Ann and I have a mutual friend that works at the nursary, Alex.  Alex and I wandered around and I described each tree and the price and eventually Ann decided that she would wait on getting one.  Alex and I were feeling big-hearted, and decided to go in halfsies on a tree for Ann.  Alex must have been a bit more big-hearted than me because before I could pay for it, he had already taken care of it. So long story, short. I traded a living Christmas tree for a Thanksgiving turkey.  It just seemed so right for the season. 

I got home from Ann's just in time to say good-bye to Mike and Diesel as they headed upstate for Thanksgiving and hunting with his family.  I made up a shopping list, went to the store, and got all of the things I needed to make some treats and a side dish.  That night I went over to Jessie's house to visit with my Aunts from Boston.  It is always nice to see them.  I was lucky to have found a few days over the summer for my sister Jerrica and I to fly out and spend with them in Boston, visiting and sight-seeing. Traveling this past year is something I am hugely thankful for.  And that I really hope I get to continue doing this next year! 

And of course there was Thanksgiving day.  I packed up all of my goodies I had made the night before, and Mike's Mom and I headed on over to my sister's house. We ate, chatted, cooked, ate, ate some more, and ate a little bit more.  Later that evening my mother and all of her sisters gathered around the table and went through my late grandmothers photos.  There were hundreds of them. There were pictures of people we didn't know, and of some we hadn't seen in a long time.  Pictures of things we couldn't make out or of those less flattering.  But there were some absolute gems!  I posted a few to my Instagram account and to Facebook.  There are plenty more that I need to scan so a few of us can have copies.  Oh, and the stories!  So much laughter! 

I am so very thankful for my family.  Looking back at all of those photos, many of which were taken during this same holiday, with everyone gathered around my grandparents table at their farmhouse.  Spouses and significant others have come and go, and many of them have passed on, but we were a family and we will continue to be.  Sharing Thanksgiving dinner with each of these people year after year is an honor, and I hope that I can continue in this tradition with my only kids some day. 

A long time ago, when I had just turned 21, I was working for a company called Edcor.  Many of my co-workers and I would regularly hang out after work and one of our favorite places to do that was at Mill Street Bar & Grille.  And the best times at Mill Street was when Exit 69 was playing a show there.  Mill Street was owned by a former co-worker, Earl, and one of the members of Exit 69 was also a co-worker, Doug.  For a long time, Exit 69 had a monthly gig and I am pretty sure that I personally attended 90% of those gigs.  I promise this is going some where. Well, 10 years later and Mill Street is celebrating its 10th anniversary.  Earl invited Doug and Exit 69 to do a reunion show. Thankfully, all of the guys were up to the challenge and in just over a month were able to schedule some rehearsals and show up on Saturday ready to rock.  And rock they did!  Earl put on an amazing party with free appetizers, a chocolate fountain, and an ice luge.  The guys of Exit 69 rocked out all of the old classics.  And best of all, I got to see friends that I hadn't seen in years!

It was a fun-filled weekend with friends and family, stories and celebrations, old pictures and new.  And so much food!  Honest, I think I gained like 4 pounds! I will forever be grateful for all of the amazing people in my life, and I am only looking forward to the on-coming years.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.