Thankful for Thanksgiving

Hey! I am in such a ridiculously good mood today, and it has had me thinking about some things.

A few years ago, I think I would have never believed it if you told me that I'd be looking so forward to a week-long trip (read: removal from all of my routines and rituals and general comfort zone and empty-air foods) for a holiday revolving around food.  But here it be, in 2011, I can't wait for Thanksgiving.

And not because of the food, which I haven't even really thought about.  I know there will be something there I can eat, and so that's fine. And that's that, I guess. And I think it took me til today to register how little I had registered the food part, which feels HUGELY satisfying to me, because it used to be that I would stress over every bite I consumed for the week leading up to the holiday to "save up" for the family meal (and then usually end up restricting on the holiday anyway).  This year, it just doesn't seem like a big deal, and the only thing I plan to micromanage is to make sure that we have varieties of red wine on hand that don't remind me of taking communion as kid.

Obviously I'm not looking forward to going so many days without my normal exercise routines. I won't pretend it will be an issue-free week.  But ever since M. and I have been long-distance, I've gotten better and better at coping with that on visits, and he has learned ways to make it easier for me too.  Again, in previous years I would have added to my daily routines days before and after the holiday to compensate, and now there is none of that.

I am SO looking forward to time with my family and my Boy, and on being more a part of his family too (we're seeing both my parents and his over the course of a few days).  I have been pretty much giddy knowing that I get to fall asleep in his arms tomorrow night. Okay I will spare you further mushy stuff, sorry.

When I rewind my tape of Thanksivings Past, there were so many in middle and high school where I was nothing but a bundle of anxiety, so drained and depleted and anxious that the holiday felt like a rite of torture more than anything else.  Then in college I just plain never came home for it ("free at last!"), spending the holiday studying and weighing my grapes and logging treadmill miles instead of with the people I loved. So, this year, my "I am thankful for" item has got to be: I am thankful for Thanksgiving and for having the chance to make up for all the years that I wasted it in the past.


Anyway, I'm in supergreat mood right now and just felt like sharing, since I'm trying more and more to avoid using this blog disproportionately for negative venting.

Random: My youngest brother called me while I was in the middle of writing this post, just to chat and ask some advice about college.  I fucking love being a big sister, especially since my brothers are actually very awesome young men.

Random: I'm sort of a sucker for "limited edition" holiday foods, which is why it was impossible for me to leave Target today without mint M&Ms, pumpkin spice waffles, and Christmas tree shaped Reese's cups (which, if you've been reading for any amount of time, you will be aware are my long time bestfavoriteeveninthedepthsofEDsnack).

Random: I have been ghetto in driving my car around with the bumper dented in even though I've already gotten the appraisal and check to pay for the damages--but I had to have *my* vehicle to transport G. home for Thanksgiving, so it will have to wait.  It's really not that bad looking, though, and nothing is at risk of falling off.

Random: I've checked off another milestone towards getting my Master's degree, and it is SO nice to feel like I'm making it farther towards the light at the end of that tunnel so I can gth out of this town and on to a school that's a better fit.

Random: I am totally obsessed with this song right now:


Random: Love y'all, happy thanksgiving, safe travels, good times, you are all something to be thankful for. <3