Thanksgiving is one of the best times of the year. As a college student you daydream about the turkey, mashed potatoes, and bread that you will stuff into your face all at once. Now that we are adults in college, most of us fly or drive home for the holidays. We are so excited to get back and see our families and have the same holiday traditions that we have been doing for years and years. But for some reason, once you get home nothing seems the same.
I remember when I was 4 years old and I was at my grandparent’s house on Thanksgiving morning. My mom and dad were on their way over but I was concerned that something had happened to them. So as a typical 4 year old would, I proceeded to call 911. Once they answered, I hung up and 911 called the house phone back. My grandma answered and I heard her from the other room saying all was fine and that a little girl was concerned about her parents, and thank you and have a nice Thanksgiving. A few minutes later my parents walked in and I was happy, but my Gramps not so much. I bet you are wondering why this story is relevant to Thanksgiving, but every year I am always reminded of that phone call and while in that moment it was not funny, we now look back and laugh at the table reminiscing on stories.
When college students come home for the holidays they remember how it used to be, but when they get home they realized that things have changed. Life has gone on while we were away at college. Now we have to try and find our place again in our “so called” home. Nothing is quite the same; people have gotten married and have kids and their own traditions. Others have moved far away and can’t come home. Things just don’t feel the same. You tell the Aunt and Uncles what you major is for the third time and talk about basic stuff. “What grade are you now? “Where’s that one boy you once dated?” All of the traditional family questions we hate answering, and most likely they hate asking.
Maybe if you are lucky, the traditions stay the same, but I think for most of us, it just feels different. We have choices now. Do we go home for Thanksgiving or do we go to our significant others house? Maybe, we have to work and can’t go home so we spend the day with friends. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I hate it. I wish I could go back and be the little girl helping out in the kitchen and having all of my family around the table.
One day I will get there and understand why things change, but for now it feels as though the older I get the harder the holidays are. But we have to remember that no matter what, the point of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for everything that we are grateful for, and that I can say makes up for not having a traditional Thanksgiving this year. So to any of you feeling the same way this holiday, just remember how blessed you are and that no matter what you can always start a new tradition. Happy Thanksgiving where ever you are!
