a smaller list than often, but no fewer thanks

[jazzfish]

This year we're not really celebrating Canucksgiving. We had a quietish weekend at home, since uilos did *not* fly out to the southern tip of the Outer Banks in a hurricane. I am, however, drinking an Orange Julius in YVR and waiting to board a plane to SFO, and thence to DC for a little over twenty-four hours and then to Martha's Vineyard for the VP reunion.

It's a bit sad to miss out on an opportunity to gorge on good foods in good company, though. uilos is already talking about cooking a turkey for Yanksgiving next month. I am not objecting to this plan in the slightest.

The lack of a big celebratory feast makes the holiday feel smaller, more compact, more personal. I'm okay with that. The couple of things I'm most thankful for are pretty personal too.

There's uilos, obviously. I can say "Graydon has spoiled you for epic fantasy, hasn't he?" and she nods sorrowfully and then we spend the next five minutes talking about whether The March North ought to be labeled Book 0 Of The Commonweal. Such people are to be treasured, and you can't have this one because I found her first. (I mean, unless she decides she wants to.) Also, it is now and not seven years ago, and Now Is Not Then (something that perhaps she realised before I did), and while I wasn't looking we seem to have built ourselves a solid foundation for the next while.

"Only another fifty years,"
I say, "and then I promise
to let you go."
--Elise Matthessen, "Response ..."

And if Thanksgiving came in mid-September instead of mid-October, there it would have stayed, with probably some added grumbling about things that aren't as bad as I complain about them to be. Instead I get green-haired Erin, and what seems so far to be exactly the right relationship at exactly the right time. Erin, who patiently wormed her way past my defences, who thrives on touch as much as I do, who has become a Significant Presence in my life far faster than I would have ever expected. I am deeply curious to see the shape that this takes as it continues to develop; meanwhile, I'm thankful that someone who meshes so well with my quirks has dropped out of the north and into my life.

(I am not nearly prepared to quote poetry about Erin. I am barely ready to quote poetry to her.)

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Comments

[wohali]

How beautiful. Thank you for sharing such a gorgeous view into your life!

[jazzfish]

*smile* You're most welcome, thank *you*.

[okrablossom]

!!!! So glad to hear all these good things going on with you :)

I head to MV on Sunday. Will I miss you both there and in the Boston area?

[jazzfish]

It is pretty great. :)

Okay, so, I have a hotel on the Vineyard through Saturday morning, and my flight out of Logan leaves on Saturday at 4:30 PM. I have yet to figure out how I'm getting from Vineyard to Logan or when, because the bus company won't process my reservation.

Which pretty much means "yes unless you want to meet me at Logan for a couple hours." :(

[okrablossom]

Alas. I am sorry to miss you.

I had thought perhaps you were not to MV yet: there is boardgame night tomorrow and birthday cake on Wednesday where you would be welcome.

Have a lovely time at the reunion!

[jazzfish]

Ah! I am not to the Vineyard yet, but I'm in DC with my parents rather than Boston.

And you have a fantastic time at the workshop! :)

[novel_machinist]

"The lack of a big celebratory feast makes the holiday feel smaller, more compact, more personal."

Basically why I enjoy spending time alone on the holidays. Sadly family doesn't seem to share my desire to be alone with my wife when the world outside seems so still.

[jazzfish]

I feel that way about most holidays. There's something about Thanksgiving, though, maybe the expectation of Too Much Food, that makes me want to share it with a few people.