That Year When I Had No Idea What Thanksgiving Is

It's that time of year that my family gets together, eats a one whole meal throughout the day and be extra thankful for what we have in our lives. This is also a good time to share what I thought on my first Thanksgiving ever (back in 2007). Now that I think of it, I feel pretty stupid.

At the company I worked in that time, I was at entry level and had to talk about a grocery chain's offers for Thanksgiving. When they gave me the briefing packet for the campaign, I immediately Googled "Thanksgiving" because I had no freaking clue what it was.

As Thanksgiving got closer, my mom made plans with her friends - this entailed them coming over with prepared food that was ordered from Ralph's and then we will pick up my mom from her work that night then have dinner. By the time we were discussing this, I was still very confused about this holiday. Why do we need that much food?

Then I learned that during Thanksgiving, Americans would eat turkey. This baffled me. From where I came from, my grandpa had his own lot where he had lots of turkeys. He would either deep fry or roast one for any occasion where we do not have a roasted pig although sometimes we have both like when it's my grandma's birthday. Of all things, why turkey?

Then I read somewhere that people who do not like turkey eat ham on Thanksgiving. No. Ham is for Christmas.

My mom then taught me about Black Friday. I was like whaaaaat?! Shopping? LET'S DO THIS, MOM! Then Black Friday became my favorite part of the holiday and/or long weekend.

Don't get me wrong, it's been six years since then and I now value the meaning of Thanksgiving. I am always thankful for what I have and for the people I have around me but today, I am extra thankful. I am unemployed but I have enough to live off of and receive so much support and cheer from my husband. I have a very understanding family and I have reconnected my ties with a few family members that I have not been in contact with for so long. I have friends that I can count on. I have a wonderful li'l dog that makes my every day brighter. To me, Thanksgiving is a reminder that despite life's challenges, there are still things that we can be thankful for.

Stay thankful. :)