avatarAmanda Laughtland

Summary

The author reflects on the joy and relaxation experienced during a four-day Thanksgiving break, appreciating time away from work, and the unique celebration of Friendsgiving with loved ones.

Abstract

The author expresses gratitude for a restful four-day Thanksgiving weekend, which provided a much-needed respite from work. They cherish the ability to disconnect, especially after spending time grading essays on a Saturday. The highlight of the break was Friendsgiving at the author's girlfriend's sister's house, where a professional baker, who also happens to be her sister's best friend, prepared a delightful meal. The evening was filled with a game called "That's What She Said," laughter, and stories, emphasizing the unique and festive nature of Friendsgiving. The author also looks forward to sharing Christmas Eve with their girlfriend and extended family, while remaining thankful for the present moments and the ability to safely gather during the pandemic.

Opinions

  • The author values the opportunity to take a complete break from work, finding it beneficial for mental well-being.
  • Enjoyment is derived from teaching and the process of providing feedback to students, especially after time away from the screen.
  • Friendsgiving is seen as a distinctive and enjoyable alternative to traditional family Thanksgiving celebrations, with a more relaxed and humorous atmosphere.
  • The author appreciates the diversity of family experiences shared with their girlfriend and the safety of being able to gather during the current times.
  • There is a conscious effort to stay present and grateful for each moment, rather than looking too far ahead into the future.

Gratitude

Thank You for Friendsgiving

Appreciating a restful four-day break

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Do you ever feel like you’re never fully away from your job? While I like the convenience of answering emails on my phone so that I don’t have a stack of questions to face after a long holiday weekend, I especially like when I can take an actual break and spend multiple days without the mental pressure of work.

I enjoy teaching, and I like the process of giving exercises and feedback to my students and seeing improvement in their writing. I enjoy it, even more, when I’m returning to it after my eyes feel thoroughly rested from not looking at a computer screen.

After relaxing with family and friends over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, I feel like I’ve been offline for a long time. Actually, I commented on essay drafts on Saturday while my girlfriend was at work, but still, I had three full days of nothing but rest.

Last Thursday, we had “Friendsgiving” at my girlfriend’s sister’s house. Her sister’s best friend is a professional baker who manages two cafes, and he made a delicious meal, introducing all the courses and naming their local ingredients to us like we were in his restaurant.

After dinner, we played a game called That’s What She Said, which is like an adult version of Apples to Apples, and not at all the kind of game that any of us would have played at family Thanksgivings, hence the uniqueness of the concept of Friendsgiving.

My girlfriend’s sister was wearing a t-shirt which said Happy Turkey Gay, which pretty much set the tone for the evening, with both meanings of the word “gay” in effect as her best friend and his husband told us how they got married “with all the other gays” when it became legal a few years back.

It felt so nice to be able to gather around a table in a small and festive group, sharing food and stories and laughs. It was a respite and a tonic and a great many other things I won’t bore you with listing because I suspect you know.

My family loves Christmas Eve, and I’m looking forward to my girlfriend being able to join us for the first time this year. I love that she and I are having a diversity of (extended) family experiences together — and I’m relieved and appreciative that it’s presently safe to do so where we live.

Meanwhile, I’m trying not to look too far ahead. I’m grateful for last Thursday night and for the four-day weekend that just passed. I try my best to hold still and be glad of each moment we have, and I thank my girlfriend and her sister for reminding me of the fun in that.

Gratitude
Relationships
Family
Friendship
LGBTQ
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