Thankful Things

Yesterday was American Thanksgiving. Many of my readers from around the world might not realize what a big deal Thanksgiving is to the majority of Americans. For starters, if you work an office job there is a very real chance you might get Thursday and Friday off of work – and, maybe get to leave early on Wednesday. Whoa. Big deal right there. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is commonly the busiest travel day of the year in the US. Each family has their own traditions. Most involving Turkey. Some (during normal years) including all of the family (meaning aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. for my family it would range from 15-25 people on any given year), others only having it with their immediate families. Some families watch (American) football all afternoon. Like it or not, it is a big deal.

Now, as a reminder to my American readers – American Thanksgiving is not a big deal anywhere else in the world. Did you notice how I wrote American Thanksgiving? It’s because Thanksgiving that happens on the fourth Thursday of November every year is a US holiday. So, this year, as I am over in Scotland (I didn’t fly home because: COVID) and people do not care that it’s Thanksgiving. They don’t care… at all, they don’t even know. And, why would they? It’s not their holiday. They just know that the “Black Friday” sales have come – as that concept has crept across the ocean.

So, on this most unusual of Thanksgiving days, what am I thankful for?

I am thankful that my family and friends are healthy and well.

I am thankful that for the most part they take actions to try to stay that way.

I am thankful that we are financially stable, have a roof over our head, and do not suffer from food insecurity.

I am thankful for my friends and family being so good about me being away right now. Our life might look easy from the outside, but living between two countries, two families and those familial expectations and obligations, and then also ensuring that we are doing what we need to for a healthy marriage is hard. Add in a COVID year and well, sometimes it stinks – like when I had to make the decision not to fly home for Thanksgiving. So, I am grateful for my family and friends for putting in the effort to make time to call or video chat and keep in touch as much as they do.

I am grateful for the technology that allows me to keep in touch with family and friends. The technology that allows my grandma’s landline phone to call my cell phone (while connected to Wi-Fi) in another country and not have it cost anyone anything? The technology to play online games with friends. Or, the wonderful technology of video chat. It has all helped to make this year feel so much more “normal”.

I am grateful for online courses and the opportunity (and time) to continue learning.

I am thankful for the time to experiment in the kitchen and learn to be a better cook.

I am thankful to have places to go for nice walks.

I am thankful that COVID has made remote work so much more common as jobs that I would not have previously chosen to apply for due to relocation requirements might now actually be a possibility for me.

I am thankful that in spite of the ridiculousness of this year, I have actually gotten to spend most of it with my husband. Go figure.

And, I am hopeful that next year by Thanksgiving life will be somewhat back to normal. Here’s hoping.