{"id":8583,"date":"2018-12-11T05:15:59","date_gmt":"2018-12-11T12:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=8583"},"modified":"2021-10-05T04:51:24","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T11:51:24","slug":"my-thanksgiving-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=8583","title":{"rendered":"My Thanksgiving 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

5 a.m. is dark almost everywhere<\/strong>, but especially so in the mountains of Southern Utah. It’s where I find myself on Thanksgiving morn, getting ready to make the final drive home for the holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I arrive to my parents home<\/strong> almost five hours later, to the sweet aroma of a turkey basting in the oven and roasted vegetables on the kitchen stove. I give my frail parents warm hugs, as the feeling of this being my last time seeing them alive lingers above me like a dark raincloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My brother’s and their families<\/strong> soon come busting through the door, and my parents house becomes alive with the bubbling personalities of my nieces and nephew. We enjoy dinner together, followed by games and laughter. I twinge slightly with the sudden melancholy that washes over me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

I miss them being in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Friday comes and we all go to the movies<\/strong>. It is such a simple activity, but it undoubtedly brings me great joy. I think they all enjoyed the time together as well, although getting kids to admit it is damn near impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Saturday is college game day<\/strong> for the University of Utah, but the game isn’t until 8 p.m. We decide to go ice skating this afternoon before the football tailgate. It all goes well until I stumble and fall, causing a great pain in my left arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turns out I fractured my elbow, which definitely wasn’t the desired ending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I go to the game anyway<\/strong>, but the medication makes me black out. I don’t remember a single thing, but I’m told we won the game. At least the freezing temperatures were a blur as well. I do miss my friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday.<\/strong> The pain has me hobbled, and I end up sleeping all day with the TV on the NFL. I should be driving home, but another day of rest is needed before I make that long journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Monday comes<\/strong>, and with it is my long ten hour journey back to Arizona. One armed and wincing I slowly make it back, using the time to think about the memories I made on this Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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