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The 39th Annual Turkey Trot.

I guess I’ll finally get over being lazy and write about this year’s Thanksgiving adventure. I think I did as much, if not more, traveling as last year but I never left the state. Or North Dallas for that matter. (Last year I flew from DC to Indianapolis on Thanksgiving day to spend the holiday with my dad’s side of the family.) Here goes–

This year was very different than years past. For most of the week leading up to Thanksgiving, we weren’t even sure if/where/when we’d be having the meal. My grandmother had surgery on the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week so she and my grandfather spent the holiday in the hospital. For all we knew, we could be grabbing some McDonalds and eating it in the hospital. But being together as a family and with my grandmother was the most important part. It didn’t matter where and what we ate, just as long as we were able to be together and give thanks. We didn’t spend the night at my aunt’s house in Dallas, we didn’t have mashed potatoes and gravy, and there were only seven of us at dinner, which for my family is incredibly small. We did however participate in the Turkey Trot and spend time together as a family.

The night before Thanksgiving, my mother spent the night in the hospital with my grandparents, my brother went to a Dallas Stars game, and my dad came to spend the night with me. We had some quality father/daughter bonding time over putting together my new dinning room table and fixing the wireless network at my apartment. We’re such nerds, but I’m so much like my father. And honestly, that was probably the most time we’d ever spent together alone. Bonding with the parentals is good. Mom and I are like best friends. (BFF!) While Dad got started putting together the table, I went up the road to the Cotton Patch Cafe to get us dinner: their totally awesome cheesy potato soup. Note: Dinner for the two of us was cheaper than the drink I bought at Starbucks earlier that morning, and more filling too! We shared the first meal ever eaten on that table. And damn it was good!

Thursday morning we got up early and drove to my aunts house to pick up family and drive to the hospital to get my mom. We parked at the hospital and rode the train downtown, along with half of the other Trot participants. We were like sardines on that train. This year’s participation in the Trot was a bit more relaxed than years past. My brother’s girlfriend, dad and his fiancée met us there. We arrived just as the 5k was starting around 9, and didn’t even walk under the official starting line until about 9:45. We got stuck with all the dogs and little kids at the end of the pack. We will be up towards the front again next year. After the Trot, we broke up and got goodies for everyone and met back at our designated spot. I was in charge of getting the bananas. I looked like an idiot weaving my way through a crowd with 10 bananas in my arms.

Next year I’m running the 8 mile. (If I’m in town.)

After we took the train back to the hospital, we went inside to visit my grandmother. My mom’s oldest brother, his fiancée and my grandmother’s youngest sister and husband were there as well. (I’m telling you, my family is freakin’ huge!) We all went upstairs to my grandmother’s room, said a quick prayer then dispersed. David and I drove back to Lewisville to get food, shower and change. Everyone else was at my Aunt’s house. When we were ready, we drove back into Dallas. We had turkey, punch and sweet potato casserole. I insisted on the sweet potatoes. Other than that, we had very non-traditional food: a Cornbread Panzanella Salad, prosciutto wrapped asparagus (yum!) and the family favorite cream cheese with salsa dip. No cheese ball! Tragic. And it was just my immediate family and my mom’s next youngest sister and her family for a grand total of seven. Considering we usually break 20 at these big holidays, it was a small gathering.

We went around the table and said what we were thankful for. Mine included the usual family and friends. But more importantly I was (and still am) thankful for the many wonderful opportunities that presented themselves to me over the past year. For the mistakes I made, and that I was able to learn from them. For parents who were able to put me through college and have supported me on my many crazy adventures. For the fact that I live in a country where people don’t have to flee when there is a change in power. And most of all, this year I am thankful for life. It’s not always pretty, and it’s not always easy. But its life, and it’s the struggle that makes it all worth it.

My grandmother is now home and recovering well. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. And we have issued a family mandate that my grandparents are not allowed back in the hospital for a couple years!

And now for something competely different, a statistic:

• Most consumers would rather clean their bathrooms (42%), sit in traffic (20%) or visit the dentist (18%) than stand in line.

Taken from Which Checkout Line Is Faster? To switch lines or stay put, that is question on the minds of every supermarket shopper at the checkout… an eMarketer.com article. When did I turn into such a marketing/advertising nerd? I don’t know, I don’t care, and I LOVE it! The one thing I hate, however, is going to the store and having to stand in line for longer than it takes to grab my items.