My favorite holiday

I’m super lucky to have the family dynamic I have. My parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents (until recently; my last remaining grandparents passed 6 months apart over a year ago) have always gotten together for pretty much every holiday, for as long as I can remember. And for as long as I have memories, Thanksgiving is my favorite. No presents, no extra fluff, just food. I bet in general, I spend most of my time at home in my kitchen. Maybe that’s why it’s my favorite holiday. I get to be in my favorite room laughing with my favorite people.

It’s not like that for everyone. I know many people don’t have families they want to sit around a table with or would rather skip the holiday all together. Some will find family in friends, which I love. Some will stay home alone and order out. There’s no right or wrong way! And I love that.

I love Christmas and I’ve read all the “articles” (tiktoks) that say the happiest people decorate for Christmas the minute Halloween is over. Sorry (not sorry), but I’m pretty happy and yet another hill I will die on, is that Thanksgiving gets its time to shine. Even though the color scheme is brown and orange. We should change that.

Okie, I will keep my grief talk brief today. But I would like to put it out into the universe that it most certainly still feels like we are missing someone. I’m beginning to suspect it will always feel like that and that is okay. If I can plan to feel that way, even a couple days before, it makes my day so much easier. My pep talk to myself before these things usually go like this…

Kass… you got this. You’re going to be sad that there are empty chairs. You are going to feel empty not being able to keep your traditions with those who helped you create them. I am not alone in this. I give myself permission to acknowledge the ugly and I also give myself permission to laugh and enjoy the day. The souls watching down on me want that for me. They know I miss them and have allowed myself to feel sad and they also know that I cannot live there.

Whatever Thanksgiving looks like to you, I hope you have had a great holiday, or un-holiday. If you’re ever feeling like you want to join someone else’s family holiday, mine always keeps the door open. My grandpa instilled in us that all are welcome and all are family to us when they walk through that door.

Lastly… what am I most grateful for? The two humans I made with my own body. The most beautiful souls I’ve ever met and some of the only souls I know with every. single. fiber of my being that I have loved in lifetimes before and will continue to until the universes cease. The gratitude I have toward them, because of them, is immeasurable. They are pieces of me in their own lovely ways. They are certainly at least 1 part stardust, they’re so so magical. They are wise and wonderful and constantly leaving me awestruck. I hope you have at least 1 thing that makes you feel that way. It’s truly otherworldly.

Love you all.