Thankful indeed

I spent my first Thanksgiving away from home this year at age 25. Plane tickets were outrageously expensive (~$750 round trip) and my finals start on Monday anyways, so I thought I'd stick it out another three weeks until winter break.

It was a good decision. I went to Chicago to visit the bff, and to the farm for Thanksgiving with my Iowa fam. And filled in all the space in between with studying.

In Chicago, we ate our way through downtown and watched the Magnificent Mile Parade. I didn't even bring my laptop, which turned out to be smart because the Megabus didn't have wifi (and was a disaster in general--would never recommend to anyone). Plus we spent a good portion lazing in bed, and dreaming about the future.

Bread pudding pancakes at Southport

French Dip at Bandera

Eataly

Breakfast at Julius Meinl

I drove to the farm yesterday morning after obsessively checking the weather through the night. There was a snowstorm on Wednesday, and while Thursday was clear, the leftover snow could've melted, created ice slicks, or otherwise caused really terrible driving conditions. We had agreed that if the conditions were unsuitable, my Iowa fam would come visit me over the weekend instead. But thankfully everything worked out, and the roads were dry. It felt odd to drive on the salty/powdered pavement, and I was more cautious than usual and made the trip in a slow 1 hour and 45 minutes (my record is 1 hour and 12 minutes for the 97-mile drive, but that was at 6am).

I always like to bring something to the farm

The farm is in sight!

My Iowa family!

We had a delicious Thanksgiving meal of smoked turkey, rolls, apple stuffing, these really awesome meatballs, potatoes, and other sides. I love love love Thanksgiving food and my Iowa fam did a really great job! Grandma also baked her famous pies, and I tried ground cherry pie for the first time. Ground cherries are like these little golden tomatillos that you have to dehusk--unlike anything I've ever tasted, and quite good. I had a huge slice of pumpkin pie (my fave).

We spent a lot of time playing pirates with the little one

I got to Skype with my family at home too, before they would eat their Thanksgiving meal. I miss them, but I know it's only a few more weeks until I can go home and be able to enjoy it! My brothers said I looked tired and terrible--I love them too. I spent most of the evening playing with Byron's grandkids, aged 2 and 4. They're adorable and well behaved--really rare combination these days, if you ask me. It's unusual for me to interact with children at all (I never see them, except at church? From afar? At the grocery store? eh) and I forget how energetic they can be. Fun times.

Woke up this morning thankful.

My Iowa family spoiled me so much in my short time there. I mentioned that my roommate had recommended that I check my tire pressure (no one does that in California, right? RIGHT?) which I'm not used to because the temperature doesn't change all that much around the year. So Byron offered to check them for me since they have an air compressor in the barn. How neat is that! He filled them up for me this morning before I left ("I warmed it up for you!") and I noticed he had put the box of donuts we didn't finish at breakfast on the passenger seat.

When I got home (the return trip was much worse, I got run into the shoulder by a semi that drifted into my lane), I was somewhat frazzled and in a nervous state. Then I got a text from Aunt Vickie that said, "Check the trunk!" and there was an enormous bag of Christmas and birthday gifts from her and Byron--"Since we won't see you before your birthday." All's well that ends well, I suppose--what a thoughtful surprise!

Now I'm sitting at home, drinking coffee and settling in to study study study. See you in three weeks!