Thanks(for)giving

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.  I can't imagine ever growing tired of waking up to the smell of roasting turkey and linen napkins being pressed.  The cranberry sauce with diced orange peel, the mashed potatoes with gravy made rich by drippings and the lemon meringue pie that marked the course between turkey dinner and turkey sandwiches... Despite being a holiday of tradition, over the years our family has stepped away from the expected and celebrated in assorted ways - Peking Duck in Montreal's Chinatown, the Macy's parade followed by a drive upstate with the stuffing on ice to be enjoyed with the family, delivering meals for those who need some assistance... Diverse yet, consistent with the theme of being together with loved ones and sharing.

I was uncertain where I would be this year - emotionally, mentally and physically, so I delayed making any decisions until absolutely necessary.  I cooked a banging dinner on Wednesday and ate turkey with my brother for the first time in many years.  As we finished our dinner, there was a semi-surprise visit from some hungry friends who certainly came to the right place, at the right time, for a bite to eat.  There were festive cocktails out to follow our feast, and Thanksgiving dawned without stress or pressure.  Tom and the boys packed up for Connecticut and I enjoyed some peacefulness alone at home before joining them for a delicious family holiday.  The remainder of the weekend was filled with painting and eating and very much being in the moment - and not angry.

Like opinions and oft-cited body parts, we all have them; choices.  To move forward or continually gaze over our shoulder, to hold onto anger or release it to the universe, to make internal room for resentment and distrust or to simply forgive...  

Right now, choosing to believe is an option made even more appropriate by the next page turn of the calendar.   The meal has been prepared, consumed and thoroughly cleaned up after... 

Now comes the what's next.