11.30.12-A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

First time opening a pomegranate

With cinnamon toasted almonds as well as 'Dubliner' Cheese. 

After battling the end of the semester rush of stress, the GI Bug, and now an Upper Respiratory Infection with Bronchitis and Pneumonia, I am back to blogging!  Whoo hoo!!

This was the first Thanksgiving that I spent without my parents.  In 26 years, I have spent every Thanksgiving and every Christmas with my parents at their house with extended family.  This year is different.

Thanksgiving Part I. was spent with my brother's family in Winchester, at Dr. Bob and Nurse Lil's house in Funchester.  Like my dad, my sister-n-law's dad has significant heart disease, so Thanksgiving is just plain mean to those people.  
But we had a wonderfully healthy; yet, overly satisfying meal.  It included:

• Turkey
• Mashed Taters (with healthy butter)
• Sweet Potatoes (for my brother)
• A Fruity Salad with Pomegranate, Strawberries, Pears, and Avacado
• Stuffing
• Acorn Squash with Sweet Apple Cinnamon stuffing
• Garlic Green Beans
• Whipped Cream Pumpkin Dip and Pumpkin Pie for dessert 

I made the salad, and decided I really wanted to open a pomegranate.  Apparently it's a big ordeal, and needs to be done underneath water so that the pomegranate juice doesn't squirt everywhere, staining anything it touches.    Anticipating opening the fruit was almost as fun as eating them.  

Thanksgiving Part Deux was spent in Midlothian with my other brother's family.  We ate more Thanksgiving leftovers and then took a walk with all of our dogs to the waterside in Brandermill Parkway. It was a full house with three dogs, including mine that freaks other dogs out.  Even though it was nice to be with family, and as much as I love Russell, he's a constant reminder of a past that is painful and full of hurt. 

This Thanksgiving I was especially thankful for a house to call my own, a job that is rewarding and challenging, and health that although isn't perfect, is just enough.  I'm thankful for opportunities for reflection, opportunities to challenge and grow, and thankful for learning humility, even if in the most painstakingly slow stretching way.