Happy Thanksgiving Y’all

I landed on the American shores in 1986 in the beautiful green pastures of Kentucky.  Had never experienced or heard of thanksgiving as I had obviously missed the Dallas/Falcon Crest/Knight Rider or the A-Team episodes where they must have celebrated thanksgiving. 🙂

I realized very quickly that it was a big deal in the American culture. My friends and their families opened up their doors and hearts to invite this foreign student into their house and made me feel like family.  I will never forget my friend DeeAnn, her sisters, her mom & dad and even her friends for making me a part of their lives for so many thanksgiving feasts in a lil Indiana town. I remember the cool crisp breeze, the crunching of the leaves with every step, the pumpkin festival, the gold fish (long story) and even the carnies.

After I moved to AZ in 1991 and after being here a few years, I was blessed with my friend Chris & his amazing family.  His mom/dad/stepdad/sisters/brother in laws/neices for that matter even step dad’s mom/dad invited Vivek and I every year and made us a part of their thanksgiving ritual.  After my friend Chris & beautiful wife Lisa moved out of town his family continued to invite us into their home like we were one of their own. The cool crisp air had turned into a balmy 70 degree thanksgiving and gone were the sweaters and fall colors but the love still remained.  Every year Scott & Lynne would prepare a feast with two different types of Turkey, couple of different types of stuffing and oh not to forget those yummy deviled eggs. Then we would all sit around raise our glasses of wine and give thanks.

So gonna miss Scott (Chris’s step dad) this year and all the love he showered upon Vivek & I.  I know he is an angel that will watch over us forever.

Thru my years in KY I learned to eat Turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing, green beans, and oh the warm rolls right out of the oven. I was not sure I liked all that at first and am still trying to fall in love with the cranberry sauce idea. 🙂  Thru the thanksgiving years in AZ, we learnt to not only adopt thanksgiving rituals with Chris’s family but also our family & friends here.  Out came the desi (slang for Indian) turkeys with indian spices & stuffings -we even had a Tofurky (tofu turkey) one year..(can’t say I was a big fan). Also picked up Turkey from Boston Market one early thanksgiving in AZ(true sign of turkey desperation). Hey It’s thanksgiving and gotta have me some Turkey.

Thanksgiving is more than just eating Turkey…it’s about being thankful (oh and not to forget FOOTBALL 🙂 ).  I am thankful for everything that I am and everything that I have become. I am thankful for my lovely family, friends, and all the encouragement & love that they give me.  I am thankful for all the real people in my life that love me for who I am .  I am thankful for DeeAnn & Chris’s family for all the love they showered upon us and made us truly one of their own.  The memories are etched into our hearts forever. This year we will miss my BIL/SIL & cutie pattutie niece that we have spent so many thanksgivings with over the years(Not sure if there are Turkey’s in Africa..hmm!).

As you update your Facebook statuses and tweet out your thanksgiving grams this year…remember to not only give thanks on the outside but to stop and think for a moment on how truly blessed you are. Thankful for each day that has been given to you and all the loved ones that are in your lives.

Happy Thanksgiving Y’all and gobble gobble!

Please do share your thoughts on what you are thankful for.

This post is dedicated to Scott…”Lord called Scott home………because he needed an angel who can really, really, cook.” words by LaMont Mann