Thanksgiving

I have much to write about from the last few weeks, but I'll start with the most recent past: Thanksgiving.

It's ridiculously expensive to fly to California over Thanksgiving, and also extremely tiring because of how long it takes to get there, so I didn't make it home this year; instead, I went home with my roommate India. We had two Thanksgivings: a traditional dinner with her extended family in Vermont and then a (mostly) vegan dinner with her mom. Both Maine and Vermont were beautiful and everyone I spent time with was exceedingly kind, and I greatly appreciate India's family's generosity and hospitality, but I couldn't help but miss my own family. Being away at school has taught me to love and cherish their unique characters; together, my relatives' wild and unconventional spirits have created a richness that I really can't find anywhere else. And, even though they often argue incessantly among themselves, they've shown me what it really means to be tolerant and accepting. I am so proud of where I come from.

I'm also extremely thankful for the friends that have supported me this year. I feel so lucky to have found some adventurous, honest, and kind individuals to share my life with, both here and in California. I still face the long road ahead that I always have, but the loving presence of certain wonderful people encourages me to carry on.

Thank you all.

P.S. It snowed for a few minutes while India and I were in Portland... winter is coming!