For a year now, my family has lived in Arizona while I attend school in New York. It's hard at times; mostly because I originally picked a school close to home. When it is the hardest is Thanksgiving. Everyone is excited to get away and to see there family.
Don't get me wrong, Thanksgiving break is important for my mental health still and I count down to it and I go to my cousin's in New Jersey so I have some family, but it's not my tradition. It almost feels like it's not Thanksgiving, it's not the holidays.
My tradition was sweet gherkin pickles and celery with cream cheese while sitting in my living room and my dad and our family friends playing instruments. My tradition was my dad and family friend Lenny carving the turkey (that I don't eat, but details). My tradition was my mom's homemade mashed potatoes. My tradition was literally all the pie and some dessert from Panera since Lenny worked there. My tradition was watching the parade with my little sister while doing some type of craft. My tradition was listing to Alice's Restaurant on repeat the whole day (which was annoying at the time) because my dad thought it was THE thanksgiving song.
Now I'm 20 and I haven't had a Thanksgiving like that for two years. It is weird. But I've made new traditions, ones sadly without my family. Traditions with my cousin and decorating the tree after dinner and watching weird movies. Going to my best friends house and being with her and her family. But it still feels not real without being home.
It feels as if Christmas time doesn't start. My mom always told me when I was growing up that Christmas music was not allowed until after Thanksgiving, but now it still feels strange listening to Christmas music because I miss my tradition.
New traditions are good and I'm so thankful I have people in my life to make these new traditions with, but that being said, it's still hard when everyone talks about going home.
When you move during college, things become hard because it weirdly feels like no place is home. That's what it feels like all the time. Especially during the holiday seasons and on Thanksgiving.
