A Different Holiday

It is Thanksgiving day and I have so much to be thankful for, but that is most likely evident in my posts so I don't have to enumerate them here. I enjoy a festive gathering as much as the next person, BUT I have grown weary of societal expectations for such gatherings. 

I haven't been getting outside as much as I'd like for a few reasons, one being the weather. It has been so cold and windy that it's just no fun being out in it. I also spent last weekend with my mom doing my usual care taking routine. We tied in our game of Scrabble, watched The Great British Baking Show and I brought my bounty of carrots to turn into a carrot cake.

I sent a text to a dear friend, thanking her for her cake recipe that I made for my mom last weekend. She responded by  expressing delight that I was 'home' for the holiday in my hometown. Now she and I have discussed this several times before; that my home is the house I currently live in, raised my daughter in, and built a life in for the past 40 years. Home is not my mothers house where I spent the first 18 yrs of my life. She considers the home she has lived in for the past 15 years as her home, not some place else where she was raised. 

I know she meant no offence, but the hint of pity and disrespect implied - that my home is not as valid as hers - because I'm single and she's married simply rankles me. As I've said, we have discussed this before, so I replied that I was just spending the weekend with my mom, and would be heading home to have a Friendsgiving that I was so looking forward to. I won't hold this against her, but I do pity anyone who fails to comprehend that others lives, different from their own, are just as valid, happy and wonderful as theirs. Rant over. 

Thanksgiving dinner was lovely and stress free at my ex-husband's newly ex-wife's home. There were 7 of us and they were all the nicest kind of people and made me feel welcome and warm. I don't need to eat again for 24 hours, but I probably will. 

Susan and I went on a brisk 21 mile bile ride on the Mohawk Hudson trail yesterday to help her reach her 2000 mile goal for the year. She only has about 21 miles to go. I went out again this morning and did the quick but hilly 10 mile loop into town and back. I'm working on my own challenges and goals to get me through this dark and dull winter. 

A hiking trail off the bike path I intend to explore.

Bleak landscape.

Susan getting artistic.

Another view of the bridge.


Comments

  1. MargaretNovember 25, 2022 at 12:15 AM

    I can understand your frustration at the "home" comment; I get irritated when people ask if a couple has a family, especially if I know they aren't planning to have children. They are already a family. That may include a dog or cat even though there are no human children.

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