I am thankful for the invention of alcohol.
I am thankful for my parents who have worked so hard for the money that bought the alcohol.
I am thankful for my liver which filters all the toxins I drown it in.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what is often taken for granted. Some people may be thankful for having a roof on their head while others are thankful for the new bugatti their parents just got them. I’m thankful for everything I’ve been given and for all the sacrifices my parents made so they could provide me with a better life. I was at home looking through old books and came across one that my uncle had written. It was about the paintings he’s sold and in the introduction contained his story on how he became an art history professor. He described how his parents never supported his passion to make art a career since their family was very poor at the time. There was a time when he had to give up teaching art after their eldest passed away to help support his famly. My dad came from that side of the family and it helped me reflect on all the family and friends he left to come to America with my mom. He’s always supported my dreams and it makes me realize how selfish I was as a kid when I always begged and complained about things I wanted or couldn’t have. My parents never want me to worry about spending money on food and rather I didn’t get a job so I could focus on academics fully. The gratitude towards my parents is something I can never fully express, but it reminds me to work harder in school and life so that in the end, I can give them everything they want.
Now, back to the shallow appreciations. This is the first Thanksgiving that I’ve been 21 at. My parents have always frowned upon drinking when under the legal limit…even at home…so now I can finally sip wine with the rest of the adults. Something about not having to raise a glass of sparkling cider signifies being grown up, even if I don’t feel remotely like an adult at all. Finally, I can partake in the drunken festivities with the rest of our family and friends.
In my head, that’s how I foresaw it would go.
Even though I was able to drink during the dinner, I basically still sat there and avoided conversation unless directly asked a question. I tried to partake in the consumption of red wine, but ended up having to add orange juice. I despise the bitter taste of wine, and orange juice usually helps cover it up. Well, drinking orange juice in my red wine made me feel less adult like, but at least it tasted good! I had to switch to beer at some point in the dinner because it definitely made the meal much more enjoyable. Also I’ve learned that being able to drink at dinner means you won’t be able to shove as much food down your throat. Three beers and a few glasses of wine in, I was mostly full from the amount of liquid in me. I felt disappointed at not being able to continually eat a second and third round, and much less desert. Pie was not even very enjoyable at this point since my stomach had stretched until my jeans were cutting into my flesh. I’m thankful for being able to drink at dinner, but now I think I’ll leave that mostly for weekends in college.
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