Happy Thanksgiving back
Holidays tend to feel different as you get older.
This Thanksgiving I've had that realization more than ever before. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that I am going through a lot of life changes right now, but I couldn't help forcing myself to talk around a large lump in my throat this morning. Holidays can be like transitions... You anticipate them for months and they are filled with celebration, but sometimes they make you realize you had unrealistic expectations or that you're going to be away from the people you love the most.
This is the first holiday we've spent without Olivia. She had a good day out in California, with a full meal just like at home (all except egg noodles, which apparently isn't a common part of the Thanksgiving Day meal, but we have them every year. What? You don't either? You're really missing out!). Both times we talked with her she seemed happy, settled, and kept mentioning that it's a mere 22 days until she's home for Christmas. It helped my emotions to know that she was okay with it all.
It's funny how family just 'gets' you. It might be that we are all just warped the same way, but we get a kick out of each other. On my phone conversation with Lacey (they didn't join us today, she's doing the extended family dinner with us at my Grandparents' on Saturday) we recited the brief exchange from when Meg Ryan ('Kathleen Kelly') is at the cash-only line in You've Got Mail.
Her items are all rung up and she's supposed to pay, when she realizes she has no cash. The checkout lady is giving her a hard time when Tom Hanks comes up behind to 'rescue' Meg (against her will) by convincing the checker to 'Zip Zip' her card through the machine. The conversation goes like this...
JOE (Tom Hanks): Oh, hello.
KATHLEEN (Meg Ryan): Hello.
JOE: Do you need some money?
KATHLEEN: No, I don't need any money. Thank you very much.
CASHIER: Get on another line.
JOE: Hi. (off her nametag, big smile) Rose. Great name. Rose, this is Kathleen, I'm Joe, and this is a credit card machine. Happy Thanksgiving.
(Rose just stares at him).
JOE (cont'd): Now it's your turn to say happy Thanksgiving back.
ROSE: Happy Thanksgiving back.
Joe looks at her, winks.
She ends up zipping the card through, and even cracks a sweet smile at him, much to the chagrin of Kathleen who is angry that he's putting her out of business. So why go into all of this? Because that is what a Miller girl does. She recites this 'Happy Thanksgiving' interaction to her sisters every November... whether it's when Lacey calls to wish us happy day, or in the text message I got from Olivia this morning. No one else said it like that to me all day... just the girls.
I guess it's not that holidays ever change. It has much more to do with my perspective. Granted, I most likely will not be laying awake this year listening for Santa on Christmas Eve, but that doesn't mean that I won't be having trouble sleeping because of the excitement of watching Ella open her gifts the next morning. Times change, we change, but with each holiday, with each transition, we're given an opportunity. We can make the most of the day, living in the appreciation of family, renewed perspective for the future, and an earmarked page to compare to our life a year ago.
Take a second to pause and think about how your life has changed since this day last year. We have plenty to be thankful for. And plenty to look forward to.
What a difference a year can make.
This Thanksgiving I've had that realization more than ever before. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that I am going through a lot of life changes right now, but I couldn't help forcing myself to talk around a large lump in my throat this morning. Holidays can be like transitions... You anticipate them for months and they are filled with celebration, but sometimes they make you realize you had unrealistic expectations or that you're going to be away from the people you love the most.
This is the first holiday we've spent without Olivia. She had a good day out in California, with a full meal just like at home (all except egg noodles, which apparently isn't a common part of the Thanksgiving Day meal, but we have them every year. What? You don't either? You're really missing out!). Both times we talked with her she seemed happy, settled, and kept mentioning that it's a mere 22 days until she's home for Christmas. It helped my emotions to know that she was okay with it all.
It's funny how family just 'gets' you. It might be that we are all just warped the same way, but we get a kick out of each other. On my phone conversation with Lacey (they didn't join us today, she's doing the extended family dinner with us at my Grandparents' on Saturday) we recited the brief exchange from when Meg Ryan ('Kathleen Kelly') is at the cash-only line in You've Got Mail.
Her items are all rung up and she's supposed to pay, when she realizes she has no cash. The checkout lady is giving her a hard time when Tom Hanks comes up behind to 'rescue' Meg (against her will) by convincing the checker to 'Zip Zip' her card through the machine. The conversation goes like this...JOE (Tom Hanks): Oh, hello.
KATHLEEN (Meg Ryan): Hello.
JOE: Do you need some money?
KATHLEEN: No, I don't need any money. Thank you very much.
CASHIER: Get on another line.
JOE: Hi. (off her nametag, big smile) Rose. Great name. Rose, this is Kathleen, I'm Joe, and this is a credit card machine. Happy Thanksgiving.
(Rose just stares at him).
JOE (cont'd): Now it's your turn to say happy Thanksgiving back.
ROSE: Happy Thanksgiving back.
Joe looks at her, winks.
She ends up zipping the card through, and even cracks a sweet smile at him, much to the chagrin of Kathleen who is angry that he's putting her out of business. So why go into all of this? Because that is what a Miller girl does. She recites this 'Happy Thanksgiving' interaction to her sisters every November... whether it's when Lacey calls to wish us happy day, or in the text message I got from Olivia this morning. No one else said it like that to me all day... just the girls.
I guess it's not that holidays ever change. It has much more to do with my perspective. Granted, I most likely will not be laying awake this year listening for Santa on Christmas Eve, but that doesn't mean that I won't be having trouble sleeping because of the excitement of watching Ella open her gifts the next morning. Times change, we change, but with each holiday, with each transition, we're given an opportunity. We can make the most of the day, living in the appreciation of family, renewed perspective for the future, and an earmarked page to compare to our life a year ago.
Take a second to pause and think about how your life has changed since this day last year. We have plenty to be thankful for. And plenty to look forward to.
What a difference a year can make.
posted by Amber | 10:34 PM
2 Comments:
tru dat........
Am - I for one know exactly what you mean. It is definitely sad to see the change, but on the same hand, you've got a whole slew of other things to be thankful for. I know this thanksgiving was a little weird for you and livy, it was for me too, but I can assure you that this Christmas will feel like Christmas! =) I should know, it is my favorite time of year ya know! =)
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