One last thing I have to write about if I’m writing about gratitude.

Both of my parents are from Massachusetts, where I grew up. Both of them also have multiple siblings- my mom is one of six and my dad is one of four- and they all live in New England, too. So I have a lot of aunts, uncles, and cousins (twelve first cousins- I’m the oldest on my mom’s side and the oldest girl on my dad’s) who I got to see a lot growing up and still get to see fairly often now. While my mother’s mother is my only grandparent still alive now, I saw my grandparents a lot growing up, too.

I hear so many people complaining about their relatives and talking about how family gatherings always lead to arguments. Or else their extended family lives far away and they either aren’t close to them or, if they are, they never see them and don’t do holidays together.

I’m really lucky that’s not the case for me. I actually like my relatives AND I get to see them pretty often. I think sometimes about how if I ever get married, I wouldn’t be able to have a small wedding because I’d have to invite all my aunts, uncles, and cousins- but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. And now it’s finally okay to break out the Christmas music!