I just couldn't say "Dear Reader." It sounds too much like Dear Abbey. Today the low's are supposed to be 29, and it's supposed to rain. I would like snow. Please?
I haven't written in forever, I apologize for the neglect- it's rather pathetic. I had midterms, finals, Fall Camp...and now it's Thanksgiving Break! I, however, am listening to Christmas music. Technically I'm not allowed to until after Thanksgiving Dinner, per Dad's request- er -command. There's a reason mom bought him a Scrooge hat. Anyways, Thanksgiving is in two days. I came home from class today (Napa's lame and made us go to school this week) to a bubbling pot of jeweled cranberries that I couldn't help but taking a spoonful of....just a little one. Or two. Cranberry sauce is the highlight of Thanksgiving for me, a hallmark of the season when I realize the taste I had while it was still cooking also ended up on the hem of my white blouse. Of course, Sweet Potato casserole comes in a very close second, mainly because it's topped with marshmallows and brown sugar and oh-my-goodness is it good! Instead of shopping on Black Friday, I eat that stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Talk about a serious sugar buzz.
Thanksgiving day mom usually requests that the entire family starve (ok, so we're allowed a bowl of cereal) until it's dinner time. Riiiiiight...I remember one Thanksgiving in particular where this was strictly enforced. We were all driving out to my cousins' in Danville and my brother and I hadn't eaten anything the whole day. I thought we were going to die. Really. Thankfully, my aunt had compassion (i.e. she had a large bowl of trail mix in the center of the coffee table) and Malcolm and I didn't die. Then there's the usual dinner with all the regular stuff. Of course there's no room for dessert after dinner, so we go for a walk. If we're at my grandparent's in Pt. Reyes we may hike. Hardcore, I know. Coming back home after this is the best feeling: the coffee's on and dessert is out. We stay for maybe another hour and on the drive home we cajole dad to "Please, pleeease let us listen to Christmas music now?" It doesn't take a lot. Once at home, we put on another pot of coffee- maybe tea- get in comfy clothes and watch a show. While eating more dessert, of course. I usually put up my Christmas lights around 10-11 that night. Thanksgiving is over.
That's still in two days, though. Right now I'm waiting for mama to come home and watch E.R. The clouds are drifting over the no-longer-blue sky. I am thankful. Thankful for all the little things like letters, chai, comfy socks, Christmas music. For people like my parents, who take me out to breakfast before school; my crazy brothers- one who's more of a hardcore shopper than I am, the other one who constantly laughs at the dinner table and my best friends who make me drive to Sac. in rainstorms, like coffee as much as me, and read my blog. I am thankful for Christ who gives me joy in His Son, even though I am an "are not" (1 Cor. 1:28).
Happy Thanksgiving!!
~Hannah
