Giving Thanks
I had an awesome Thanksgiving! Part of what made it such fun was that it was totally unexpected.
I planned to stay home, and sulk over a frozen Swanson TV dinner. But then, a few days before Turkey Day, I received an invitation to join my friend, Bebe, and her family for Thanksgiving dinner in Del Mar, California. I was sooooo moved by the invitation, I got all teary-eyed just reading the email.
Driving down the 5 Fwy early in the morning was surprisingly nice. I had the roads to myself, the sky was bright blue and clear for miles, and the ocean was beautiful. That drive reminded me of all the trips I made to Santa Barbara, California, over the years.
Back then, I went up to SB a few times a year to visit friends studying at UCSB. Hanging out with them was great, but, honestly, I enjoyed the drive just as much as their company…Not to go on a tangent, but that drive up up the 101 Fwy only gets better as you head north. I’m looking forward to the day I can take a vacation — even a long weekend, dammit!- so I can see Santa Barbara, Los Olivos (wine country detour), Morrow Bay, and Hearst Castle again. Give me a whole week and I’ll drive up to Sonoma (it’s been six, maybe seven years since my last visit?) then work my way south back to Los Angeles, CA. Me in my little Civic, with the sunroof open, blasting whatever country music or ranchero radio station that I can pick up as I cruise the open road.
Yes, I felt good, remembering all the little trips I took alone way back in my single days, pre-Endicott (my soon to be ex-husband), pre-separation (soon to be divorce).
Just then my cell phone hang. It was a call from Mr Self-Absorbed Flake, as I lovingly call him. He owes me a nice chunk of change for a project he’ll probably never approve, so I’ll probably never get paid. Bummer!…I almost didn’t answer the phone. Hey, I finally thought, if he calls on Thanksgiving morning, it HAS to be good news. He said he was almost done proofreading my work, and was ready to move forward. He asked me to call him when I return to LA the next day. I hung up the phone relieved I could finally stop worrying about this never-ending project and the money I expected over a month earlier.
As I walked into Bebe’s house, I received the warmest welcome I’ve ever had in my entire life. I’m not exaggerating when I say everyone there lined up to hug me and say hello. I tried really hard not to get all sappy and weapy (I do that a lot), but in my head I went all Sally Fields at the Oscars, “Oh my gawd, they like me! They like me!”
After that, the rest of the day was a blur of wine, non-stop grazing over the appetizer table, hours of catching up with people I haven’t seen in years, an awesome turkey dinner, more wine, some green stuff (pot) before the inevitable fingerpointing with my best bud, Jean Luc, over who spilled the green stuff in the backyard. Someone checked the lawn with a lighter, as I poured myself even more wine. Finally, as the evening was winding down, someone had the idea to catch The Ice Harvest playing at the local movie theatre. I sobered up just enough to drive us there, so off we went.
As I left Casa Bebe for home — I was camping out at my Aunt Molly’s home in San Diego — I couldn’t stop smiling. I had the best time, with some of the funniest, most giving people I’ve ever known. Their friendship is definitely worth giving thanks.
Love,
Flo
2 comments December 9th, 2005