A Thankful Blog

The wife and I were lying in bed this morning discussing the day ahead.  As today is Thanksgiving we are heading out to my mother’s-in-law house (wow that sounds funny and I much prefer mother-in-law’s and honestly I don’t know which is correct – but upon further review).  This is the normal thing we do on Thanksgiving but the gathering will have a few more people than normal.  Normally it is just the mother-in-law, the sister-in-law, the wife, the son, the daughter and me.  Every once in a while a friend will join us but the number is usually around 6 or 7.  This year we will be pushing a dozen and I don’t need to remind you, faithful reader, that I do not like crowds.

Anyway, as I said, we were discussing the day and I was (for the 33rd time) trying to convince her that I did not need to go.  She gave me “the look” again and told me that she knew that I would do the right thing.  I commented to her that “doing the right thing” really had nothing to do with it.  She then asked me to explain that statement.

“Imagine if you will a weight scale” I started.  She then became a little more interested and propped up on one elbow, settling in for my explanation.  I went on to tell her that on the two sides of the scale I measure the ramifications of each choice.  On the one side is an afternoon of suffering through the niceties of small talk with family members and acquaintances (con) with good food (pro) and the incessant request to take home leftovers (con) or return tomorrow for leftovers (con).  On the other side of the scale is an afternoon alone (pro) with the dogs (con) but having to live down for many Thanksgivings to come the choice not to come (major con).  When I contemplate this imaginary scale, I can see it tilting toward attending Thanksgiving today.  Thus, my decision is made.  “What about doing the right thing?  Where does that come in?”, she asked.  I then told her (as I patted her on the head) that the “right thing” only really comes in as the tie breaker.  This was met with “another look” and then silence.

So, as I write this blog, I am looking forward to / dreading Thanksgiving dinner in a few hours but I am thankful for at least one thing this Thanksgiving, blogging.  You see, this is my 500th blog since I started way back when with my first blog entry back in July of 2006.  I have mentioned multiple times before that blogging is very therapeutic.  It helps me to sort through my feelings and do one of the things I enjoy most, making people laugh.  So if you are a new reader or one that has been with me since the beginning, thank you for reading my blog (gracias por leer mi blog).

Jon