It was 2009, and Drew and I had been dating for a couple of years. We were living in apartments in Panama City, Florida and working for the local ABC station. His parents had recently moved out to Arizona to join his sister, and mine were back in Virginia. We worked Thanksgiving Day and got off after most dinners had been done. We decided to watch a movie and order pizza, but a few quick phone calls confirmed all the restaurants were closed for the holiday. We cooked rice and ate, just the two of us. Our families were more than a thousand miles away in opposite directions. That was the day we decided to move.
For many people, today will go down as the worst Thanksgiving. But I look back at that lonely, sad, rice Thanksgiving with so much appreciation more than a decade later. The worsts make the bests that much better. They allow us to feel more thankful for what we do have, more gratitude for future days to come, and to realize what truly is important.
This year, I’m thankful for those important things; my family’s health, my beautiful boys, our delicious food, and the technology that lets us stay connected. I’m also thankful for that worst Thanksgiving, the one that pointed us home.
Our Life in A-Z 