Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving. Also, I'm an ingrate.

We're girding our loins to head up to New Jersey for Thanksgiving.

Yesterday Nick said, "Wouldn't it be nice if we just stayed here and had a relaxing holiday?"

I got all hopeful. "We could." I said it calmly, so as not to sound like I was jumping up and down in my chair at the possibility.

"No, we have to go. Jordan needs to see his grandparents. They need to see him. And he should get to know his cousins."

All of these things are true. Plus, you're supposed to spend the holiday with family. It's not that I'm not thankful to have family. Of course I am. It's just so...effortful. And exhausting.

You fight 95 traffic to get there...and then it's not relaxing once you're there. Nick gets tense and dickish beforehand. I get tense and bitchy.

Dickish and bitchy do not a happy couple make.

Nick and I both drink way too much while we're there. If we lived in the same town as his family, we'd be alcoholics for sure.

And I don't wish Nick were an orphan, at least not most of the time. But it would be nice if he were an only child. Or maybe only had a younger sister.

Thanksgiving has never been my favorite holiday anyway. I'd skip it altogether if I could.

Christmas, Christmas I love. I love the lights and colors and the preparation of treats and the tree and just everything.

But Thanksgiving always seems like it's all about food. It's all about the stress of preparing and cleaning up a gargantuan meal.

You go around the table and say what you're thankful for, but that's really the only focus on thanks.

Then you eat and eat and eat until you're stuffed. And then you eat some more. And the kids get all jacked up on sugar and things devolve into chaos and you wish you could go home but you can't because you're at someone else's house and so you just keep drinking until finally it's time to go to bed.

And then you wake up hung over and, oh fuck, you have a kid to take care of and why did you drink so much? Oh. Right. And you probably can't crack a beer before noon without people looking askance at you. Crap.

Wow. I didn't exactly know where I was going when I started this. And there you have it.

But there's always the hope that it could be really fun. And also, world peace.

In other words, Happy Thanksgiving, all!

12 comments:

  1. Ugh. And that's why we do Thanksgiving at home- people are invited, but we don't travel. Godspeed to you this weekend, and remember- you caould opt for a "breakfast beer"- just tell them I said it's OK.

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  2. Maiden Metallurgist - Hahaha! Yes! We could bring Cheladas! Happy Thanksgiving to you, Josh, and the baby!

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  3. I'll be keeping you company on the highway. Also, let me know if you want to escape an hour or so northward and come visit my family. I'm *sure* my mom will have more than enough food. And booze - but only in the best way.

    Actually, Thanksgiving might be the time I like my family best. Come up!

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  4. Happy Thanksgiving to you guys! We're doing the at home-just-our-family thing, and I gotta say, it's kinda making me sad. We still haven't bought a turkey... Not sure if the stores even have any, to be honest (they'll sell them for Christmas, but not now). Yeah. Anyway, go world peace!

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  5. Happy Thanksgiving sweet Lisa, travel safely. Cheers :)

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  6. I am happily going to a friend's house, a friend who is an amazing chef. I plan to be drunk by 3.

    Happy happy.

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  7. Happy Thanksgiving! Does Betty get to go with you? Hope it's easier and nicer than you expect.

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  8. World peace. Pumpkin pie. Smooth travels and a beer before noon. I hope you find it all.

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  9. I totally agree with you about the hassle factor of the holiday. Which is why about 5 years ago D and I started turning down all the (sweet and lovely) invitations from friends concerned that we have no family around. Now we have a huge feast for the two of us and drink until bedtime - at home.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

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  10. 95/jersey turnpike at Thanksgiving and Christmas makes me want to CLAWMYEYESOUT or maybe SHOOTYOURTIRESOUTYOUDUMBDICKHEADINTHEWRONGLANE
    but yah, holidays and happiness and whatnot.
    so, since we're in the same position (traveling TO family for holidays) at what point do you get to have people come to you or just not go? because i was hoping that's once we have a kid, but... no?
    ah yes, and happy thanksgiving to your whole LemonyGloriay clan!

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  11. Jessica - Thank you for the invite! I'm trying to make time to see my friend Tori, who lives about 10 minutes away...we're not staying that long, so one friend is about all I can politely manage! But have a great one!

    Luna - I could see how you might feel isolated where you are. Growing up overseas we never had family around but always had Thanksgiving with friends, and that felt very good to me. It's hard traveling so much and being so far away. Big hugs to you and yours!

    HKW - Such big hugs to you.

    lexa - That'll be deeelightful! Have fun and yes, happy happy!

    Susan H - She did last year. This year she's spending it here with dear family friends.

    Dana - Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!

    Keenie Beanie - That sounds lovely and relaxing. Have fun!

    jen - It's a terrible road to travel, isn't it? Ugh. The thing about Thanksgiving for us is that all of Nick's family is up there, so it makes sense for us to go up. We stay here for Christmas, and we'll host Christmas day. I think if you are traveling for both holidays, once you have a kid it would make sense to say you're staying home for one.

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  12. Nice post. This is the first year in many years we don't have to go anywhere. I'm feeling almost zen-like serenity. Although, I will miss seeing the family, arguing politics, and drinking too much. We'll try to make up for the lost stress by doing some Black Friday shopping.

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