Happy Black Friday! Post-Thanksgiving Expat Thankfulness

Growing up, I loved Thanksgiving

I loved the Wednesday night before, when my dance teacher would let us out of class 15 minutes early (a rare treat).

I loved waking up and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while my mom bustled around the kitchen trying not to curse … too loudly.

I loved eating as a family in my teenage years (a rare occurance), even when my brother once planted his face in his plate of food, with the purpose (I believe) of halting the heated family discussion that was brewing into a loud argument.

I loved Thanksgiving dinner, even when I stopped eating meat at age 16. That’s when my mom began the veggie lasagna mini-tradition. Okay, it was out-of-the-box and frozen, but fresh out of the oven it was gooey, and good enough.

I love that Thanksgiving, well, in years past at least, kicked off the holiday season. I’m not religious any more, but the parties, the lights and the caroling … I can get down with that. Christmas Eve in Washington? That song still brings on tears, and I haven’t lived back East in more than ten years.

What I’m thankful for …

For the last two holiday seasons as an expat, I was pretty much sad about the holidays from November through January. I focused on all the things I, and by extension my children, were “missing out on.” (As if a two-year-old knows what she’s missing.)

But as with everything, attitude is key. I’ve shifted my thinking, and I’m thankful for:

• Not feeling like I have to spend five-to-eight hours in the kitchen actively preparing a meal. For weekday cooking, I finally found a proper knock-off crock pot here (you can’t just export one from the US, the electricity voltage will short out the apparatus and possibly one’s apartment). I can now cook quick, healthy stews that my kids will actually eat.
• Not having to cook, specifically, a Thanksgiving turkey. Ohhh, I cook meat for my family, but it has to be pre-cut and prepped, I can’t deal with “handling” raw meat.
• Not having to feel like I should participate in Black Friday shopping. Not that that exists here.

Geez, if I mentioned Black Friday to a grandma here, she’d likely spit on the ground and knock on wood. Taken out of American Christmas season shopping-frenzy context, the phrase sounds like a superstitious curse … Friday’s only sin being a day-of-the-week.

Well, everyone, Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy, and see you next week!