PPD*

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. Turkey and stuffing and green bean casserole. Family and friends, laughter and games, and arctic winds blowing over the back patio, which we had to make time to stand in.

In my family, we've never had a huge tradition of saying what we're thankful for. We should. Most of us need to take the time to remember what's important, what we should be thankful for. But as it happens, we've all got avenues to exploit to that purpose.

It wasn't until after reading Samia's note on facebook that I even remembered this was part of the tradition. But the truth is, I never know what to be thankful for. I'm thankful for having an EFC of 0, and for finding Kings Quest VI. I'm thankful for my purple coat and my iPod. I'm thankful for rummy and spare change. I'm thankful that I don't have any debilitating diseases or injuries and that I don't live in a country that's always at war.

There's a lot of things that I'm glad I live with and without, but most of them seem like background noise. The things I'm most thankful for aren't things, but people. And there are a lot of them.

I'm thankful for my whole family. Dad, for spoiling me to the bone, and for having given me the wisdom to stick to my principles. Mom, for being so neurotic that it forces me to get the ball rolling, and also for teaching me to be open minded. Jimmy, for being the comedic jackass that he's always been, and for letting me watch while he drew pictures that blew my mind. Joey, for buying my cigarettes when I had no ID, and for being a rock I can always turn to. Samia, Sim-Sim, my sister, for being a total brat who lies and always remembers wrong and tries very hard to make sure I don't dress like I'm blind, and for always making sure I'm okay. And then there's Sawsan and Molouk. I talk like they're the most annoying people in the world, but I've had so much fun with them. And I have to be thankful for Jim. I live in his house.

I'm thankful for my friends. Paul, for pestering me about The StrangeLand and Xiggysisklism, and for having weird philosophical conversations with me deep into the night. Geof, for listening to me pine after girls that will never be interested, and for being my soul-brotha. Chance, who "just went into rap mode," for putting on show tunes and singing at the top of his lungs with Samia and me, and for always making conversation. Travis, Samia's boyfriend, for saving my ass in Halo all the time, and for letting me spend the night at their place so often that I practically live there. Stephanie, for trying to set me up with a girl just a bit too late, and for having a car that always stalled, which always meant up to an hour of us just sitting and talking and chilling with each other. And of course Carissa, for a lot of reasons that I've probably gone into detail about so many times it's pathetic.

There are others. There always are. Just about every teacher I've ever had, but more specifically (in general order of appearance), Denise Shipley, Susan West, James Farmer, Amy Crowson, Heather Spiller, Ginger Haag, Raylene Scott, and Jonni Davis. If I'd never been in their classes, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed high school half as much as I did. Also, maybe Mister Hamm's class.

There's always something to be glad you have, but what I'm the most thankful for is that I have so many people to be thankful for.

Oh. And pumpkin pie. That's the second most important.

*Pumpkin Pie Day