Wifey B:
Many businesses opened this afternoon. We've chosen not to open any of ours today. In fact, we're promoting the thought that you don't have to stand in line for hours or break away from your family or get up at some ungodly hour or be there when the doors open to get the best deals.
As to the holiday, we're often cruising and people still have Thanksgiving Dinner at our home, even when we're not there. I remember us doing turkeys on board in Marina Del Rey one year. However, this year, it feels good to be home. This is why we will always have a land home, regardless of how much we cruise. We just have a few members of our extended family here today. Ages 5 to 66. I'm so on clouds because my niece Aurora is here for the week. I had a blast taking her shopping for designer outfits.
Today a sit down, served meal and otherwise relaxing by the pool plus paddlleboards and kayaks. Let's see who is here. Hubby and me. That's 2. Tabitha, Beth, David makes 5. Melissa, her parents and three sisters. Up to 11. Carm, Jenn, Karen, Brit, Diane, Veronica, Lisa, that's 18. James, Anna, Dena, Blake, Stephanie, Renee, Jeff, Maria, Nikki, Scarlett. That's 28. Frank, Betty, Tiffany, Rich, Aurora. 33. Julie, Michelle, Juliet and another Michelle. 37. Small family gathering.
It's not about the food to me, but about gathering with family. We didn't have such a family most of our life and these are all "acquired family." Aurora started calling them all her cousins at 3 or so and she has it right. It's not who was born to whom, but it's the relationships.
They are what I'm thankful for today, each and every person I listed. I'm so lucky to have them in my life. As a child, we never celebrated Thanksgiving and had no real family. Even Hubby and I typically went out to eat or grilled steaks at home with just us in NC. Then something happened. If you have family by birth and they've always been there, then please show them you're thankful. Often people who do think everyone does, but take it from me, many don't. If you're not with family and friends, then maybe it's possible next year, perhaps a new tradition. Pick people you'd like to spend the day with and call them family and enjoy.