The best part about travel can also be the most frustrating. The opportunity to shake up a routine and SEE life freshly is one of the delights. But the shaking up part also can be, well, TOO much sometimes. Or at the very least, annoyingly mundane. Good shaking up: a new cafe for breakfast with interesting food choices, observing the what the locals are wearing when in a new village or city, foliage that delights with bright colours or leaf shapes. Less good shaking up: finding out your phone number has been cancelled unexpectedly, and dealing for HOURS over several DAYS and countries to get it fixed. I won’t even start on the car shenanigans that we have also been dealing with.
We are healthy, with family and for that I am ever so grateful. The rest of it is just noise.
It is amazing grace that we get to travel at all, that we can live in one place and still see family and friends in others. I am grateful every day for this life I lead, even if it means periodically I shake my metaphorical fist at corporate nonsense.
Another good shaking up: last week we were meant to be staying at a friend’s house on a nearby Island (we love Islands!), but the Atmospheric River had other plans and the power (plus heat and internet) were out for a couple of days so we delayed our arrival a bit. After we arrived, and a day of figuring out how everything worked, the power went out again.
This time, we figured it would likely come back on later that day, so we did what seemed the most sensible thing. Once the light of midafternoon faded, we headed to a side of the Island that still had power, got connected enough to find out when the power was coming back on (a few hours later) and headed to the local BrewPub. It was warm, had food and drink, Internet connection, and we were supporting a local small business. Plus we got to check out the local ‘scene’. Disruption, yes, but in the most delightful way.
This is the week I have been looking forward to for some time: a week with both my adult children and their partners. A week of hanging out, cooking together, playing games, going for long walks, and being together. For me, it is what Thanksgiving is all about. Choosing those people with whom you want to spend time; preparing a meal together and celebrating the gifts we have now, today. I am SO SO grateful to be here now with these amazing people in my life.
Last year I wrote about the Thanksgiving Holiday:
That’s the special deal about Thanksgiving: there is no one way, no right way, no better or only way. You can follow a traditional formula for your feast, or be rather quirky. Every family or group has it’s way of celebrating the day that suits them. At it’s core in practice (but not meaning, that’s a whole other controversial story), Thanksgiving is just a little too much food lovingly prepared for the people you choose, wherever you end up. And it’s a moment to stop and give thanks for this day, right then and there, and to be thankful for more if you want.
So that is it from me. Even if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, I recommend the idea of taking a full day to gather with those you love, prepare some of your favourite foods, and spend your time enjoying their company. Once you have that time together, no one can take that memory away. I’m already filled with pre-Thanksgiving food and love and family.
I hope you find yourself in a good place this week, whatever you are doing.
And I’m also wishing you some good shaking up if it helps you SEE more clearly.
And as ever, thank you so much for your time reading these words. It means the world to me!
xx Sabrina
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You are so right about happy accidents that happen while traveling. I think that committing to travel has an silent agreement to accept whatever comes your way ;-) But phone problems...ugh! Those should be an exception. Happy Holidays!
Thank you for this wonderful read full of joy, gratitude, humor, and fun. That's what we need these days. I'm so happy for you and yours that you got to spend this precious time together. It's rare. Not having spent a traditional Thanksgiving holiday with the children in perhaps nine years, your post makes me ache to have one again. It's such an important day. I'm putting it on the books for next year. Celebrating together makes a big difference in the day.