It’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I’m walking around Ritan Park. I do this loop on most days while Amanda is napping at home. Some days I feel old and it’s an effort. Some days I feel blah and it’s a bore. Some days I feel spry and it’s a breeze. Today is a spry day. I am thankful. I am reminded of my Mom and when she got into hiking and how fast she walked. I’m walking fast on this day. A jogger zips by.
On Thanksgiving itself, we gathered at Yang’s apartment. Yang isn’t there, she’s in Toronto with Aidan and Lydia. This Thanksgiving, it was Yang’s mom, her housekeeper, Elisa, Amanda, Sabrina, and me. And Kobe. It was a fairly low key family affair. I made the appetizers - chips and dip, devil eggs, and cheese/cold cuts. In previous years we had more family and friends over so I would order a full Turkey with fixings from a local restaurant. This year, like last year, we planned the American expat Chinese Thanksgiving cliche - Peking Duck. But a funny thing happened on the way to the duck, I remembered KFC did mashed potatoes. So, a large set of KFC chicken and fixings it was.
Kobe was quite interested in the KFC. Yang’s mom wanted to feed him the bones. Sabrina told her that wasn’t a good idea. Then Sabrina got up to feed Amanda who was focus playing with toys. Kobe’s attention turned to me and I gave him a small bone. Grandma approved. Later, Kobe took to Elisa’s chair and stole the remains of two pieces of chicken. Grandma was satisfied.
We have a tradition of watching a movie together on Thanksgiving. Elisa went through several options and was surprised to learn I never watched Titanic. Maybe because it’s three hours. I was 31 when it came out and knowing that time of my life, a historical love story wouldn’t be on the top of the list. And did I mention it is three hours? But now, despite it being a larger percentage of the time I have left, it was worth a try. Took two nights to get through it. And, you know what? It was good. Really good. Brought some emotion out. Grandma watched the whole thing in one setting. She was locked in.
I was a bit sad to be far from some of my family but thankful to be close to those that are here. Sitting with Elisa, making fun of parts of the movie and quiet emotion during other parts. Amanda running in circles on the floor. Kobe barking, wanting more bones or to take a poop.