Thanksgiving Weekend Recap

"Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often." ~ Johnny Carson
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After I wrote my last warm and fuzzy Thanksgiving post, I remembered why I only see my family in small chunks of time or in separate groups. (And why my sister and I both brought beer.) For example, I will go up to my grandfather's house by myself to see him and my aunt and my cousin. Or my sister will come over to Baltimore. Or I will head to my parents' house. If you get us all together in the same house for more than two days it's just too much. My family is loud (my grandfather, my mom, and my aunt are all hard of hearing) and high strung (except for my dad). It doesn't make for the most relaxing of environments.

I especially value my vacation/holiday time and want it to be relaxing now that I'm in school and working and I have almost none of it. I survived. I took a little vacation from the vacation on Saturday afternoon. When they all went to a museum, I claimed that I had homework to do (which I did), and stayed behind. I watched two bad movies on tv and knit an entire hat. It was glorious.

Of course, the second they returned, my mom asked, "Did you do your homework?" Once a mother, always a mother, although I'm 27 and in grad school and I think I've been managing ok without her checking in. She means well, though.

Overall, it was still a good weekend. There were a lot of good meals, that I didn't have to cook, and we didn't get into any serious bickering. The only notable small area of contention was when my mother announced that we are celebrating Christmas at my parents' house on December 8th, because they are going to be in Florida over actual Christmas. I reminded my mother that Dec. 8 is only two weeks away. I already had plans, some made weeks ago, for that afternoon, that evening, and that Sunday. However, family trumps friends and my mother's executive decision to move Christmas to a date convenient for her stands. I do see most of my friends more often than my family, but still, I requested that next year, she give a bit more notice, if she is going to move Christmas or any other holiday...

The drive home on Sunday was good. I had left my car at a friend's house that's on the way between Baltimore and my grandfather's on Thursday, with my sister meeting me there and driving the rest of the way. For the return, I went with the parents, actually getting some studying done in the car as we went down 476. My parents dropped me at my car and I got to chat with the friend for a good hour, which was really lovely.

Next stop, White Marsh. I had dinner with my two best guy friends and the one friend's aunt, and she had brought cheesecake, bonus. Then we watched football (NFL ticket) per our usual Sunday routine and watched Disturbia (pretty entertaining.) It was nice to be home (this is one of my homes away from home) and completely relaxed. (It's so cozy there, I even have a designated seat and blanket.)

Finally, I was actually home and very happy to see my baby, Gizmo, who was likewise pleased. According to my roommate, she cried/meowed the entire first day that I was away. Poor girl. Now, I am back and we can resume our quiet, little, peaceful life in the city...and rest up for the next visit.