Thanksgiving looks a little different
Thanksgiving is almost here, and it looks a little different for us this year—and honestly, I’m okay with it. While we were living in Texas, Thanksgiving had a familiar rhythm. We’d spend it at a friend’s house. (And by “friend,” I mean they have a 23-year-old and a 21-year-old, but they’re not old—if you know, you know!) One of the highlights was playing Family Feud with fun, quirky questions. Nick and I are very competitive, and it was so much fun teaming up together. Those moments felt light, full of laughter and good company, and I’ll always carry them with me.
This year, things are different. We’re in an Airbnb, waiting for the day when we’ll finally all be together and living in Hawaii. It’ll be soon—but not soon enough. Thankfully, our Airbnb hosts have invited us to a small family gathering, which feels so kind and special. Even better, they were stationed in Hawaii many moons ago. I can’t wait to chat with them, hear their stories, and make notes about the best local foods and places to explore when we get there.
Nora, my now 1.5-year-old, doesn’t really know the difference between holidays yet, and truthfully, Thanksgiving has never been my favorite. (Confession: I’m one of those weirdos who doesn’t like pumpkin. I overdid it as a kid with my grandma’s pumpkin dishes, and now I can’t stand it!) That said, I miss my grandma dearly. I miss her Thanksgiving dinners, with turkey, ham, and the endless delicious options she would prepare. And dessert? Oh, her dessert game was unmatched. She’d even sneak her famous Christmas cookies onto the Thanksgiving table, and to this day, I miss that little act of holiday rebellion.
There’s a bittersweetness to this Thanksgiving, though. My best friend is leaving soon to go back to New York, and Nick is awaiting his rank advancement results. It’s a mix of things to be thankful for and things to feel a little “un-thankful” for—if that makes sense.
But in all of this, I want to take a moment to talk about Nick. He’s amazing. Yes, he can be aloof sometimes (he’d probably agree), but he’s so consistent in how deeply and fully he loves. I’m so proud to be his wife and the mother of his child. When I gave birth to Nora, I was on magnesium (a story for another post), but one of the first things I said to him was while I was completely elated and sobbing, “I would have 800 of your babies.” He’s a unicorn. I love him.
So, Thanksgiving this year isn’t about big gatherings or traditional dinners. It’s about transition, reflection, and gratitude for the little moments. It’s about the kind hosts who invite us in, the memories we carry from past Thanksgivings, and the dreams of what’s to come when we’re finally settled in Hawaii.
What does Thanksgiving look like for you this year? Are you sticking to tradition, or are things a little different, too? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments.