Thanksgiving 2024

Air Volvo is at the mothership, and the machine will not likely begin to spend my money until Monday. Like many modes of transportation, you make them work by pouring money into them. The parking brake failed on my previous Volvo without so much drama; this looks expensive. This change meant that Thanksgiving was my first full day as a pedestrian. I was trying to enjoy it. Lyft was my access to travel.

Going backward, I brought two plates of food from Scott and Michelle’s Thanksgiving Party in disposable containers and contacted Corwin. Corwin had told me he would not join the feast this holiday; he had to repair his truck. Instead, his roommate took him to a feast with his family, but Corwin still appreciated the extra food and plans to enjoy the gift of Thanksgiving meals over the next few days. Corwin is broke; he can’t get paid as a food delivery person when his truck is broken, and is still recovering from an ER visit. Corwin is now living a healthier life after nearly coding.

Corwin and I shook hands and wished each other happy holidays as the season started the rush to Christmas and New Year’s.

Next, I showered and dressed for bed. I read for a while and soon, after midnight, turned off the light. I rose, looked at the list of fruit cakes I sent out last year, and asked for address updates on Facebook. I then went to bed and slipped into a slightly boozy, dreamless sleep. I did not wake up until late.

Going back, I rode a Lyft ride to Scott’s house on the other side of the smallish Bull and Cooper’s Mountains. I was early, but the wine was open, and a booze-enhanced fruit mix was ready. Scott told me that food and booze would be plenty, and thus, I brought flowers. It was a pleasant group that grew and grew, and the wine flowed. At one point, the room spun for me after a few glasses of wine, but that soon passed. I did not know if that was breathing or my balance issue, but it passed and did not reoccur. I remembered not to rise too fast and to walk slower. I did have another glass of wine and two heavy beers, but I could still function later. Another Scott was running late, but once he arrived, he carried excellent beers into the kitchen to share. Dinner was served, and a vast amount of food and items were in piles. There were two vegetarians in the crowd, but there was plenty for them, too.

(At Scott’s and Michelle’s house with family and friends)

We had the crackers, soon wore silly paper hats, and read terrible jokes. Everyone wrote what they were thankful for on paper and put that in a vase. These were drawn and read, and people guessed who wrote them. Once that was done, the author told a joke. It was fun and lovely.

I had trouble getting my Lyft as my app was broken, and it seemed like I never finished the last trip in the app. Later, I learned that the driver had been paid and had gotten a tip. Scott restarted it on my phone, and I ordered a ride home. It was over $30 this time, but it was Thanksgiving, and the driver should get something special for tonight; I thought it fair. Ten minutes later, I said my goodbyes and thanks and boarded the Lyft ride. Though the app seemed to work, no tip was collected that night. I added it on Friday morning!

The morning started with me waking to texts on my phone and enjoying my new East/West time zone. Deborah and I spoke briefly before she had to prepare veggie and fruit platters for a Michigan-based feast. We were joking about Mr. Burns, and I renamed my laptop Smithers, which got Deborah laughing.

Aside: I often do not explain allusions that can be easily Googled.

Next, I focused on the blog and finished it early. I read and rested. I read some religious items online as I am teaching Revelations next year. I watched more YouTube videos, and soon, it was time to leave. The Lyft arrived, and I boarded. Soon, I was whisked away to Scott’s place.

That brings me full circle in this story. Chatting with folks of different age groups was fun during Thanksgiving–I was in full social butterfly mode–but I realized I was on one side of the spectrum now and treated like one of the old guys by the young folks. But I was able to keep up with both extremes of age groups as I traveled, could cook, and understood complex beers and wines enough to be, at least, included in the discussion. Loki, the only dog present, was also happy until he was ignored. He then licked or hopped up to get more pets and attention. Unlike the dog, I was content to listen mostly and only interject here and there.

It was a great evening, Thanks Scott and Michelle for inviting me!