Thanksgiving: Grace

I absolutely love Thanksgiving. Best holiday ever. I think I like it so much because it is so simple- no overt religious connection, no excessive commercialization, just friends and family gathering to eat food. The fact that it is distinctly an American holiday also makes it more appealing (I mean what American doesn’t like gorging himself with food, right?).

Our plans for the holiday usually involve going to Columbus, Ohio for a gathering on my mom’s side of the family or down to Chapel Hill, North Carolina with my dad’s side. A few years (including last year) we have hosted the 25 people from my mom’s side at our house. No matter where we go, we always have a legitimate football game that we play outside regardless of how cold it is. There are always a plethora of board games and card games involved (including Hearts, Apples to Apples, Poker, Quelf, Taboo, and Catch Phrase). And then of course we have the classic Thanksgiving dishes, and while we are enjoying our feast we turn on the first Christmas music of the season- before that time it is completely forbidden to listen to any Xmas tunes. Thanksgiving is a time to catch up with the whole family; this is one of the few times we are able to get together in the year, with family from Louisville, Ohio, New York City, Wisconsin, DC, and Seattle. Though I’m not as obsessed with the food as I know some people are, it’s still my favorite meal of the year. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to escape from the bustle of everyday life, to come together with family, and to just enjoy life and all of its many pleasures.