Our Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with a group of friends this year, and, for me, it was the perfect Thanksgiving—a day spent with people we love, sharing stories, good food & wine, and counting our blessings for having such wonderful people in our lives. Let’s face it, holidays can be stressful and expectations high. Add a strained familial relationship or two and it can feel like anything but a holiday. Gathering together an eclectic group of people (young, old, black, white, male, female, gay, straight and lesbian in this case), all sharing in the responsibility of cooking and cleaning takes the pressure off and provides for some interesting conversation.

We came to know our hosts, Mike & Mari Hart, through our friendship with Mark Erba. Mike is a doctor with the VA, and Mari is a nurse with the Emory Clinic. They are warm, and genuine, and fun. Also there were Mari’s parents, Pat & Mari, a delightful couple who came to America from Ireland when Mari was a child; Mike & Mari’s sons, Patrick & Drew (Patrick is in college at Oxford, and Drew is in high school and plays the bass in a band called “Highway” they are impressive, sorta bluesy rock; lead singer, Alex Lotito has a strong and powerful voice; and they write all their own lyrics and music. They play around Atlanta; check them out if you get the chance); Corey, a friend of Pat & Mari’s; Mark and his son Dante, his mother Camille, and his brother David; our good friend Heather Haase and her friend Tom; and Amanda and her girl-friend Rena. There was lots of livey conversation and laughter, and the most wonderful food, and lots of it.

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without taking a moment to reflect on the things we are thankful for. We have had this tradition at our Thanksgiving table, much to Mr. Man and Amanda’s chagrin, for years, and I cannot let Thanksgiving pass by without putting into words how thankful I am. I think it is important in times like these to realize that even with a recession, high unemployment, raising food prices, and the threat of terrorism, we are still better off than many. We have roofs over our heads, food in our bellies, jobs, health insurance, reliable transportation, running (clean) water, and so much more that we take for granted as Americans. I'm especially grateful to have such incredible friends, not only here, but across the country and across the pond. Friends that I know will be there for us whenever, wherever. This year, I’m thankful to have taken part in a historical election, where Democrats finally—after eight horrible years of lies, self-interest and thievery—said “enough” and voted into office an intelligent, articulate, inspiring, African American President who “gets it.” I’m grateful for the hope he brings and for reminding us that it is up to us to bring about change. I can’t close without mentioning my thankfulness for my family, but I won’t bore you with the sappy details, let’s just say I feel very...fortunate.