Thanksgiving ambassadors

I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday because the whole point is to share a good meal with people you like. No presents, no costumes, no undelivered expectations or half-hearted resolutions, just a great meal and conversation followed by leftovers and laziness. It's a wholly American celebration of survival and gratitude that I am very proud to be a part of. Jeff and I spent the whole of Thanksgiving day making an unholy amount of food for my lab's grad student and visiting scholars, none of whom are American. Actually for two of them it was their first Thanksgiving in the US so I felt it was our responsibility as emissaries of America to be as traditional and over-the-top as possible. I really wish I had thought of making everybody wear ridiculous construction paper turkey hats before just now. Jeff spent all day smoking a turkey and it was as delicious as it sounds.





We also made mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, smoked mac and cheese, and cranberry sauce in the shape of a can (like I said, I was going for authenticity). I made my great aunt's coconut cake for dessert.




This was the dog's default position all day.



In the end it was a fantastic meal. I made everyone go around the table and say something that they were grateful for. My family has never actually done this (nor have we ever worn turkey hats) but since I was the leading expert on Thanksgiving at that table, I took some liberties. I think something was lost in translation, though; my Italian friend thought we were going around the table telling secrets. I sort of hope a bunch of people in Italy now think that we play truth or dare as part of the Thanksgiving meal.



So what am I thankful for?
Being married to somebody who makes boring things fun and tragic things surmountable. A job at a world class institute and a couple of job interviews in my future. Health and stability and all of the boring things you take for granted but really notice if they're gone. The thing that I said was that I was grateful to be part of the lab that I'm in so I had a chance to meet everyone that I've been working with. Particularly Giovanna: imagine having a really cosmopolitan Italian aunt who leaves work with you one afternoon to help you pick out shoes for your podium presentation the next day. It was nice to have a minute to really look at what's right and be grateful for the good life.