Every year, the festive season of reflection falls upon us on the last Thursday of November, which sometimes falls on my birthday. Just a five days ago, I celebrated my wonderful 30+ years, and it was fantastic. I was thankful that a cluster of my oldest and newest friends took time out of their busy schedules to celebrate with me as I embarked on a newer and wiser age. An age of perfection — just as I envisioned my special day, as well as the jumpstart to an upcoming week of reflections, seasonal recipes, tasteful aromas brewing from kitchens and familiar chatter bellowing out the mouths of loved ones.
Of course, my dramatic themed life generated an influx of weather advisories, phone call notifications of cancelled road trips and stockpiled refrigerators of morning, noon and night treats to be rationed off throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Okay, okay…I guess I am being overly dramatic and the Northeastern storm headed down the borders of I-95 may have nothing to do with me or my perfect holiday. However, the neurotic disappointment filled in my skeletal cavity and across the thin lining of my cheeks hovered over me as the stress of hunkering down to celebrate with six empty chairs in the dining room transformed as a reality. But this morning I awakened to a bright sun that erased traces of rain, sleet and snow filled clouds, and a smile peeled across my lips as I whispered good morning to the heavens. I thanked God that my birthday wasn’t cancelled five days ago instead, my out-of-towners were safe in their hometowns, and the other six dining room chairs would be filled with the family members that are most important.
Now that’s a Thankful and Joyous reason for reflection during this most wonderful season of appreciation.
Happy Thanksgiving!