Friday, November 23, 2012

Thanksgiving

So, I have survived my first Thanksgiving as a low-fat vegan. A couple months ago, I would've anticipated the past two days to be quite difficult in resisting the urge to eat food that wasn't on my diet. In all reality, it was really easy. I made food that felt deserving of a special occasion and brought it with me to Mom's house. I didn't lust after the sweet potato casserole. I didn't drool over the dressing, and I certainly didn't feel sad about missing out on turkey. These foods just aren't appetizing to me anymore. I sat there and ate my dinner, and instead enjoyed the company of my family.

I've always said that the company was more important to me during the holidays than the food, and for the first time this year, I found it to be true. Brad's been off work since Wednesday, and I can't tell you how lovely it is to have him around all day. He and Jack have so much fun together, and I can tell Cy is really starting to bond with Brad in a way that I can't.

There's a tradition in my family that every year, we pass a little cup or ramekin around the table and everyone places two corn kernels in the cup and says what we're thankful for. This year, as I looked at my two little boys, I realized how rich my life is. I have two fantastic and interesting people that I am in charge of raising. I have a loving husband. I have friends that offer help when I know that they too have challenges in their lives that I can't imagine having to surmount. I volunteer my time as a La Leche League leader. My extended family is generous with their attention when I call to complain about some mundane thing that's eating up entirely too much of my attention. I have a beautiful home, and there's always food on the table. I am thankful.

Seeing what other people deal with on a daily basis kind of puts my body image woes into perspective. Sam said that he was thankful for his family and friends, and that he was in remission. Here's an 11 year old kid who's diagnosis came as a complete shock to everyone, and yes, there have been times when he gets upset at the hospital stays, and the medication, and the procedures, and the whole damn situation, but a part of his personality has started to emerge through this mess and I love the man he is becoming. He's generous, and kind, and thoughtful, and altruistic. If this is what he's like at 11, I can't wait to know that man he'll be in 10 years.

I guess what I'm rambling on about, is that I was schooled today by a kid with leukemia. While I'm thinking about how I need to start exercising to minimize my hips, here's a kid that's just thankful to be in remission.