traditons.

today i discovered something grand.

i am growing up.

actually,

it all began because someone told me i was growing up.

there's nothing better than someone saying, "oh! you're growing up!"

this exclamation came about after i informed my fellow barista that i was spending my first thanksgiving (my first holiday) away from home. and he's right - it is a sign of growing up when you don't go home for a holiday. it's a slightly scary, overwhelming & sad feeling that comes with this realization. no longer can you rely on the traditional dishes surrounded by your family's faces. there's no familiarity or comfort. there's newness (if that is a word). new traditions, new faces, new dishes, new movies to watch. it's all so new.

and therefore, it's another adventure.

thankfully, thanksgiving has never been traditional in my family. (there were a lot of long "t" words in that last sentence). instead, thanksgiving has always been more of a hodgepodge of backgrounds.

being a pastor's kid means strangers share your holiday table with you. if my parents meet someone at a gas station who doesn't have a place to go - they are immediately invited to our house (this has never actually occurred but seriously could). this tradition has translated over to the daughters & we find ourselves also making sure that strangers have a place to eat (note: northerners find this large amount of hospitality a bit overwhelming & frightening. you often have to persuade them you do not want to steal their valuables or con their grandmother out of her money).

this year, i'm the one searching for a table.

luckily for me, my best friend resides just a bus ride, one metro train & another bus away. familiar faces will be surrounding the DC thanksgiving table.

and for that,

i am thankful.

perhaps new traditions will result. i know for a fact that new dishes will be tasted. of course, movies will be watched. but don't worry - photos will be taken, a blog will be written & you will once again know perhaps a little bit more than you wanted to about brianna's life.

yes, i did just refer to myself in the third person.

i have tomorrow off (first day in a very, very long time) so the freedom is going a bit to my head (hence the late hour & the fact that i'm watching an episode of "my boys" i've seen before just to prepare myself for chicago).

love to all.

and to all a happy thanksgiving week.