So Much To Be Thankful For

Though I may be 4,500  miles away from home and family, and unlikely to find the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on the "telly" here, it is still Thanksgiving, and as anyone who has seen this blog knows, I have so very much to be thankful for.

Not least of which was getting to celebrate the holiday with friends and a traditional feast of turkey and all the trimmings this past weekend.  We spent the afternoon and evening cooking, crafting and of course, eating.  A far cry from the turkey burger I enjoyed during my last Thanksgiving in London* it was an amazing meal (the arrival of Whole Foods in London has transformed the expat Thanksgiving experience) and a wonderful evening spent with friends.

*That was also a wonderful Thanksgiving in its own way: I had an internship and had to work on Thanksgiving, but my co-workers (who knew it was my first holiday away from home) took me to lunch at the only place they could find nearby that served anything turkey (thus the turkey burger), had me tell them the story of Thanksgiving, and then promptly put me in the conference room with the international calling card so I could chat with my family on the holiday.  I still get a little teary eyed when I think about it.  

In less than two weeks, I will be headed to Heathrow, with overstuffed bags to be sure, but also an overstuffed heart full of the wonderful people I have met and places I have seen. Rather than bore you with a laundry list of the many reasons I have to be overflowing with gratitude today, I will just say that I am so thankful to have had this amazing opportunity,  for the wonderful friends I have made along the way and especially for my friends and family who supported and encouraged me to take this leap (and continue to do so daily). Thank you hardly seems sufficient, but for now it will have to do.

To my dear family and friends, near and far, I thank you and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!