Surprise Thanksgiving

I don’t know if this is my best trip ever, but it is definitely up there in my top ten list. And while it was a very short trip, I did luckily remember to take a few photos. The trip in question took place last year on Thanksgiving.

But first, some very important backstory. I always loved Thanksgiving as a kid, even though I was a picky eater. I just simply loved the food and spending time with my family. It only got better as I got older when my taste buds developed, causing me to like our family’s traditional dish of cranberry-apple crunch and pies other than pumpkin.

Then, one fateful day, I went off to the other side of the country for college. And while that year I was able to spend it with a member of my family that happened to live close by, I couldn’t go home to my parents in Virginia because of, well, college. For the next three years I didn’t go home for Thanksgiving for the same reason, and then when college was finally over, I couldn’t go because of work or the plane tickets were just too expensive for such a short trip. Before I knew it, I hadn’t spent Thanksgiving at home for over a decade.

Then last September, I woke up to a text from my sister, who, for privacy’s sake, we will call Jill. She asked if I was free the day after Thanksgiving. When I replied no, Jill was disappointed because since the big family gathering in Virginia was going to be held at my other sister’s place (let’s name her Marie), Jill was wondering if I could come this year (she even wanted to pay for my ticket!). You see, there was an airport literally five minutes away from Marie’s house, so Jill could come and pick me up without anyone being the wiser. Oh yes, the trip was supposed to be a surprise to most of the family (besides us two, Marie’s husband would know so someone owning the house would be expecting me).

I immediately wanted to go and after asking my boss, she kindly gave me the day after Thanksgiving off. However, my sister and I quickly faced the hurdle of finding a plane ticket that was both affordable and had decent departure and arrival times. But after weeks of looking, searching, and praying, we finally found decent tickets that would take me to Virginia.

After weeks of waiting, the day (or night, it was a red-eye flight) finally came for me to leave. Thankfully, there were no delays and I arrived in Virginia on Thanksgiving morning, tired but excited. As planned, Jill and her boyfriend picked me up and we drove to Marie’s house. When I walked through the door, my oldest sister saw me first and was surprised to see me. Then I entered the family room and cried ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ to the rest of my family who were there. At first, there was no reaction.

Then my family finally registered my presence at Thanksgiving and my Mom and Marie cried out in delight. There were hugs and after some walking, talking, and playing on the zip line outside, we had our Thanksgiving meal.

And boy, was it great to have the foods I grew up eating with my family again!

The rest of my Thanksgiving trip was pretty relaxing going forward, full of walks, games, playing with my nieces and nephews, talking, and a nap that my oldest sister made sure I took after that red-eye.

And even though I ended up getting a cold on that trip, it was the best Thanksgiving that I ever had.