Atypical but Grateful

My sentiments exactly: Granted I'm not the one being eaten...

I never really grew up with a traditional Thanksgiving every year. Instead, given the year, circumstances, location, Thanksgivings for me were always quite varied. One year it might be the typical Thanksgiving meal, decked out with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pie (the “essentials”) with the entire family together. Another year it might be at an Army Mess Hall-think high school cafeteria but with surprisingly delicious Thanksgiving food with just my parents (siblings being away in college or living independent adult lives). I even recall one Thanksgiving when my mom was away helping to take care of my brother’s baby daughter, so my dad and I went to a local Korean restaurant (completely empty with some very confused looking waiters). Then once I went to college, my parents were always too far for me to visit so I would be one of those students stuck in the city trying to scrape together a Thanksgiving meal with any other students also stranded in the city. So the fact that this year I wouldn’t be having a “traditional Thanksgiving day” didn’t really faze me.

NYU in Florence did prepare a pretty lavish Thanksgiving meal for any students who were smart enough to RSVP. And feeling like I should share in this very American holiday with other Americans, I attended. For a day where you’re supposed to remember all that you are thankful for, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Man, Americans can be quite gluttonous… My Italian family would be utterly shocked.” But… the food was so good! Props to NYU. And one thing I was truly thankful for that day.

Of course, that isn’t all I’m thankful for… the list could go quite long, so I’ll just say at the risk of sounding cliché… I’m grateful for another atypical Thanksgiving in a land far from home, but still had all the right trimmings (good food, better moments, and the best of friends).