Thanksgiving

I can't believe it but Thanksgiving is almost here. I would be lying if I said the holiday will be easy this year. It will be different without my mom present and in a way I am grateful that I will be away. There's something about palm trees and basking in the sun to make one forget their sorrows. I have so much to be thankful for, it's hard to mourn. I am not one for self-pity, never was and can't bring myself to go there now.

I am constantly reminded of the gifts both my parents gave me that carry me forward today. Yes, I will always miss them but when I reflect on my childhood, we had some classic Thanksgiving dinners. My large Italian family would gather around our diningroom table and I felt so happy yet so small surrounded by so many "large" personalities. My family tends to be loud, talking over each other to make their point. Our parties are boisterious affairs filled with much laughter.

I and my siblings will all be apart this year and though we had a family celebration last weekend, we will only be together in spirit on Thanksgiving Day, talking to one another on the phone across the miles.

That will just have to do.