Thanksgiving weekend is one of my favorite times of year. Although B and I had to work a little more than usual – ideally I would take the whole week off – it didn’t dim any of the luster. It’s laid back and there’s (usually) no craziness. We eat, we run, we enjoy each other’s company with fires in the woodstove and lots of candles, we take time to remember why we love living here, and we plan a Black Friday outing that does not center around shopping.

One of our favorite traditions is our local Thanksgiving Day turkey trot. No registration, no chip, no bibs, no t-shirts, everyone pays a few bucks to cover the insurance and whatever extra goes to the food pantry. This year it was cold and blustery and we rolled out of bed and ran the half-mile downtown to the start – along with neighbors, dogs, strollers, kids, the local run club, and many turkey onesies. Our little run raised over $500 for the food pantry and an anonymous donor matched it. We are thankful for many things and our community is always one of them.

We had ham this year because the kiddo is not a turkey fan (“it tastes like – meat”) and it was just the three of us so we can eat whatever we want! She spent hours the day before making a French silk pie that is truly a labor of love and B made his family stuffing recipe, so all of us contributed something to our meal. The Lions lost but Jack White performed a quick but electric halftime show with a special appearance by Eminem. (Two well-loved Detroit musicians who continue to represent.)

Past Black Fridays we’ve skated in the shadow of the big Christmas tree at Campus Martius in downtown Detroit and others we’ve visited John King, the enormous used bookstore, followed by burgers at Checker Bar. Unfortunately, Checker Bar suffered an electrical fire in January so we switched things up and went to Mercury Bar for lunch and then on to Michigan Central Station. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays and full of people admiring the decorations and taking photo opps. I tried to tell the kiddo that when she was just a baby this proud space was in ruins, full of broken glass and the winter wind, flooded with gallons of water, and possibly vampires; and now it shines with love and luster, green boughs and baubles, polished marble and wreaths. I don’t think she believed me.

I think one of the things I like best about this time is that it allows me to imagine what life will be like when I’m less tied to a corporate life. Right now my path is clear – I work, and am well compensated, and I am responsible for my daughter, and my home, and our lifestyle. I tuck my yearnings away inside myself during my work weeks and find satisfaction in the life I have now and there’s a lot of it! I like where I work and I like walking into our building and saying hello to people I’ve known now for over 20 years. I like knowing the answers to things and I like my paychecks and our healthcare and my robust retirement savings and I like that when my daughter needs something I don’t have to think twice about it. All of these things are true blessings and I am thankful for them every day while at the same time knowing that I’ve worked really hard to get here. But I am also thankful that I can still see a life past these things, that there’s still a little spark inside me that dreams about buying a cabin in the woods of Sweden or retiring early to become a crossing guard. I don’t want to wish my life away by hoping that the next decade until retirement goes any faster than it has to. The universe has always put me where I should be to achieve the things I need and I am grateful- but in the meantime, maybe a little manifestation and dreaming can help it along.

Now we’re watching an incoming winter storm which seems like the perfect end to a long holiday weekend. We’ll be curled up by the fire eating leftovers. I hope wherever you are, you are also warm and happy in that intersection between gratitude and dreams.