Gratitude

I don't like turkey. You may have heard me utter those words a few times. I just don't. Despite the fact that I make a pretty good bird and my stuffing is awesome, I just don't care for that type of bird. When I was responsible for preparing the bird for family get together's I would grab a bit of dark meat and some stuffing and than move onto the other food I would have prepared. Perhaps a roasted side of salmon, a curry or pasta of some sort...just not turkey. Not my thing.

I attribute this to the fact that I grew up eating anything but turkey. Special occasions were marked with roast pork or beef. Lamb, duck and goose on occasion. Not so much with the turkey, which really joined the repertoire only after I met my ex. Now that I'm single, tomorrow will be a roast chicken and some lamb for me and the boy, since the girls won't eat lamb, and a few accoutrements to round out the meal.

The coming together over food with my small family is important to me, the whole what are you thankful thing will be front and centre. Truly one of my favourite things to do is cook for family, friends and significant others, it's my contribution to showing you how much you mean to me. I don't care for cards and gifts, those are things, breaking bread and sharing a laugh or two is the real treat.

So, what am I thankful for? The usual list would contain things such as my kids, my family, my friends and my relative health. That's the low hanging fruit that anyone can easily regurgitate...Oh, that's not a nice word is it? Like moist. Like gorge. But I digress. Maybe we can be doing a little better with our thanks givings. Allow me to try.

My kids would be obviously at the top of the list. A trio of characters that, literally, every day make me smile. In their own ways they are growing up to be unique, non sheep original people. They are funny, warm, responsible and yet slightly rebellious and smart asses. You can imagine that I would be quite proud of those last two traits, and you would be right, but what really makes it for me is that when they are that way it isn't simply rebellion for rebellions sake, they actually do come with strong beliefs. Their voices will form over time and their message will be clearer and that will be a joy to watch. The smart ass thing is pure me, so while I might bristle a tiny bit at a few transgressions mostly I am charmed by them. They remind me of a certain somebody.

My parents and my sister. What can one say? You're all certifiable and I love you like crazy. My kid sister that still thinks she is smarter than me, what with being a doctor and all, who saved my life and has been there for me on countless occasions....what does one say other than I love you and thank you for everything. Your own problems often take a back seat to those around you, you're giving and kind with pretty much a mirror of my own sarcasm and wit. If we lived nearer to each other we would probably be responsible for people pissing in their pants a lot more along with a few throat punches offered.

And my parents, talk about a foundation to build on. The yin and yang of parents. Smart, hard working, fierce love and just enough of the Serbo/Croatian temperament to keep you in check growing up. I told you once, when I was doped up on drugs in the hospital, that I thought you guys were awesome...wanna know a secret? I always think that. Nothing is easy in this life and you have shown us how to come out the other end, maybe battered and bruised but still loving and loyal.

My extended family; uncles and aunts, cousins and nieces and nephews...while we may see each other only infrequently, relegating a lot of our interaction to Facebook posts, coming back in from the wilderness over the past few years has helped me to reconnect with some of you in a meaningful way. The tribe is a little better off and when something goes awry it's nice to know that there are people in your corner. Sometimes I do wish I was back in the big smoke to be able to see you all a little more...just know I'm not making any freaking turkey OK.

And my friends. My brothers and sisters from another mother. Some I have known for most of my life and some are new found. You know you had a good friendship when you can go months without communicating and pick up right where you left off. Someone very recently asked me if I believed that we attracted the kind of love that we deserve? I wasn't sure if we did at first because, well, sometimes things don't work out. But thinking about it some more I think we get what we need sometimes and often we aren't really aware of what we are getting and why. Those twisty windy roads that mark all our lives are peppered with people that will come and go at various times and I like to believe that I'm better for knowing those people. Just by having them in my life, I am a better person. Some will be there until the end and some will fade away, but they have all contributed to making me, me.

Canada. While I spend a lot of my day dreaming around the idea of living in Greece or Italy for part of the year, I can't imagine abandoning this great country of ours forever. A friend recently returned from Hungary and she recounted a little interaction on a bus with a couple from Israel. When she told them where she was from their response was that she was so lucky to be from here. She agreed. I agree, wholeheartedly actually. 

As Canadians we take a certain amount of perverse pride in not being Americans, we'll watch your shows and visit and wish we had better pricing on electronics and cars but generally speaking we like that we aren't you. Being bombarded by American "culture" and its sheer size and influence hasn't really forced us to assimilate to the way of apple pie and the gun. Thank fuck I say.

The idea that Canadians will self identify when travelling around the world is also one of those perverse pride things. Stick a maple leaf on your back pack and most Europeans will treat you a little bit better than our American cousins. We have, generally speaking, a pretty good image to the world at large. They see us as the kinder gentler version of Americans. We're not crafting our own version of manifest destiny wrapped in poutine and maple syrup. We love it when we kick ass but we're just as happy that people like us simply for being us. We have immense beauty and potential all around us and while we might not have our house completely in order we do get a lot of things right.

For the country where I live, my friends, my crazy family and my almost crazy kids...I am thankful for you all. You challenge me, support me, inspire me and make me laugh. I cannot imagine life without these influencers, these instigators, these people.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all

Ciao
D