This year, my husband and I enjoyed Thanksgiving with close friends. We rented a house in the Colorado mountains, packed our car full of groceries and games, and headed into the snow for a much-needed vacation. I was particularly looking forward to unwinding and decompressing after a few stressful weeks at work. We decided on a local holiday instead of traveling to see family this year, mostly to avoid a tense event involving airports, security screenings, and general travel anxiety. No matter where a vacation takes me, as a dietitian, I still have misgivings about holiday celebrations; holiday eating in our culture is a very social event, and there is the expectation of gluttony. Even the promise of a relaxing holiday still causes me to stress!
Thanksgiving dinner was exceptional; I made a tasty cheesecake for the first time, our friend Jennifer made a delightful Bosc pear salad, and of course, we savored the meal for two days straight. (Who doesn’t love leftovers?!) After the indulgent feast, we took three rambunctious dogs for a long walk – mostly to help the humans digest – watched movies, and jibed each other during some friendly card games. It was a particularly special holiday for me; I was able to rest and relax among friends away from the worries of the workaday world. Holidays are always going to be holidays; there will always be some misgivings. But, no matter how we dress or undress the holiday or the meal, it’s really about the celebration of time spent with loved ones that lingers after the oven cools and the pie is devoured.