A Perfect Day

As Thanksgiving is looming for some of my fellow American teachers, I am reminiscing about Thanksgivings of the past. Thanksgiving, to me, is a time to be grateful and count the blessings of life. I will not be pitying myself about working on Thursday. Nor will I strive to recreate a feast of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy on a huge oval table. I believe that sometimes the best Thanksgivings are those which are nontraditional. This might be due to my perfect t-day last year; a first without any members of my family.

I traveled from Ohio to California in the weeks leading up to turkey day. After dancing in Boulder, gambling in Vegas and flicking off the Hoover Dam (we had our reasons) I made it to my friend Riloo's San Diego beach pad.

It was a PERFECT day.

PERFECT hat-Days before, I went into a Utah gas station looking for sunglasses and found love instead. Just about to pay for my items, a raccoon hat caught my eye. I couldn't think of anything more appropriate for a trip out west and Thanksgiving. A steal at seven dollars, it rarely left my head for the remaining journey.

PERFECT food-Waking up to some heavenly banana pancakes would have been enough but about an hour later Riloo made a veggie rainbow pizza, then blackberry sage thumbprint cookies, and later, sugared cranberries. Just as it should be on Thanksgiving, I was toddling around and embracing my stomach before 4 PM.

PERFECT tea-Thanks to Riloo's beau, Eldo, my day consisted of eat, have tea, repeat. I can still remember the lovely smell.

PERFECT beach-Did we really see a wolf? Or was I hallucinating? We went to San Diego's Dog Beach for an afternoon stroll with a tremendous San Diegan sky.

PERFECT hippy potluck-For dinner (as if we needed it) we went to a potluck. Riloo's co-op coworkers gave me the silent treatment for literally three minutes before I pointed to my coonskin hat and I whispered loudly, "Everyone knows this is fake, right?" with a nervous chuckle. Danksgiving resumed quickly after that and tofurkey was shared graciously.

PERFECT spoon-I completely passed out too early (maybe 9 PM?) but had a great cuddle with J.

If I was back in Athens I would probably be prepping for the small talk shuffle and Hot Nuts. I do feel a certain longing for my friends and my family's eclectic array of food. I am doubtful I will have another perfect Thanksgiving this year but with such fond memories of the past I wonder if I can really complain? It's Thanksgiving after all!