Why my parents matter more than my plate
Thanksgiving reminds us of many things we have to be grateful for – family, friends, health, and freedom. It’s a calendar reservation to take a moment from our hectic lives, step back, and appreciate how truly good we have it. Going into Thanksgiving, we usually have only the best of intentions. But, like almost all holidays, Thanksgiving allows our priorities to stand out for their misplacement and misdirection.
The biggest thing I hear from my fellow university students regarding going home is their excitement for food. Home cooked, steaming hot, mother-made food – and lots of it. This is understandable, of course, but it’s also a surprisingly large component of the discussion when speaking about the holiday. What bothers me isn’t the anticipation for turkey deliciousness, but the unfortunate emphasis placed upon it.
Here’s what I look forward to at Thanksgiving:
1. Seeing family again: Now that I’m a full-time scholar, I feel like a less-than-part-time daughter. Being extremely close to one’s parents is a good thing, but it also makes things difficult when midterms and deadlines rear their ugly heads. Calling my dad or Skyping my mom is great for staying ‘in touch,’ but nothing beats the real touch of a mother’s hug or a father’s hair tussle. And, despite the shock from admitting this, I kind of miss my little sisters, too – kind of.
2. Reuniting with my pets: This is as big as seeing my human family members. As is likely the case with many, my dog is one of my best friends. And my lazy cats and weirdo rabbit are amusingly characteristic – playing with them brings an immense surge of happiness.
3. The gorgeous Canadian fall scenery: I don’t think much needs to be said when our eyes let the colours do all the talking. Whether or not fall is your favourite season, I’d declare you soulless if you said you didn’t, in some way, enjoy the breathtaking views nature provides for us at this time of year.
Some may feel like fall is an ending, with lifeless leaves and bare trees, but I feel as if it is the start of a new beginning. Much like the shedding of chlorophyll-deprived foliage prepares a tree to endure a cold winter and rebirth in the spring. This season is marked by kicking into full swing for a new school term and reflection on the goodness of your reunion with friends, the hard work you’ve done to be studying something you love, and the fortune of living in one of the greatest countries in the world.
Food is a bonus of Thanksgiving, but it certainly doesn’t come close to driving my excitement for the long October weekend. My heart is so happy being with loved ones that my stomach doesn’t even have a chance to get a word in. Even when it finally arrives, my time with family is so darn brief that on the ride back to Guelph, I find myself fondly recalling our short visit, and forgetting entirely about what had been on my plate.
There will always be food. Maybe not always the same kind of food, but it’s there, it’s available, and it’s never going away. But family – well, you only get one, and you certainly can’t find a replacement at Creelman’s. The pumpkin pie is sweet, but relishing my moments with family is far sweeter – cheesy (I’ve had enough of the food metaphors for now), yet true. I hope you’ll agree.
And if not, well, there’s always Halloween, which means free candy!