we've never been good at Thanksgivings: I mean, we certainly know how to be grateful, but when it comes to big family dinners ("big" re: both family and dinners), we're at a bit of a loss.
my closest extended family is my uncle, in Leeds; everyone else is in India, a day-long flight away. we're pretty good at eating, but not that good, and neither of my parents like pumpkin pie. (as a consequence, I've never even tried it -- though I'd very much like to. pumpkin spice lattes be damned, I want the Real Deal.)
I also have never been to a Thanksgiving football game, though I've watched several on television. I can't stand watching football on television; it's no good unless you're there in the flesh. I lamented not being at the A&M-LSU game until I remembered 1) what befell me after the last Aggie game I went to (hint: sneezes, fevers, all-around misery) & 2) HOUSE OF CARDS, which I have since ceased watching because [everyone is terrible, give me some BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.]
so: Thanksgiving is often just another day. my parents weren't even home for most of the day, off chasing various early Black Friday deals. (as much as they enjoy railing against what Black Friday's become -- ridiculous! tell me, how is it Black FRIDAY if it starts on a Thursday? perhaps it's just fraudulent, comme the BLACK SOX. perhaps that was too far. it's late.) we ate a quick Thanksgiving pineapple, baked in various ways, for lunch. I stayed home & finished some college essays, then went for a walk later in the afternoon, Zinn's A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES in hand.
(I find the first chapter particularly appropriate for this holiday. I hesitate to call it "Genocide Day," as some will -- it's harder to get away with such things if you're not white -- but still.)
reading while walking is not advisable. I walked into a streetlight & I fear it was caught on camera.
note that I have done very little aside from college applications this break, which I hope means that I'll have submitted all of them by tomorrow & thus will have little to worry about for the rest of the year. & the following year. it's not in my hands anymore! presently sustained by excitement for PIZZA FRIENDSGIVING tomorrow.
from the top: coconut macaroons, baked pineapple (lovelier with ice cream, of course) & coconut-stuffed holige. all courtesy of my mother.
