I love Black Friday. It's a tradition that my dad and I go out in the pre-dawn, and go buying, not shopping. I can't remember when we started doing it, but we always end up at Sears, in the tool department, and there are few things I love more than trying to pretend to be interested as my dad explain what a certain type of wrench does, or why $9.99 is a good price for it. Today in total I picked up: a vacuum for $25: originally $45, the first two seasons of Mad Men for $30: originally $80, and a pair of jeans/black pants for $56: originally $96. I know the whole thing is consumerism at its worst blah blah blah, but as long as you don't dawdle and know what you're going for, it can be quite a productive day, and all before 10 AM.
Thanksgiving was perfect and wonderful. Something else I look forward to is sitting on my Grandma's floor, plate in my lap. There's is a tiny house that is insanely hot, but I love it. In the past several years, we've combined Thanksgivings and all my family under one room is so awesome.
You know me well enough by now, but I feel that I should introduce you to where I come from. These are the people that have shaped me into who I am, supported me, and cared for me. This is my family, and for them I am truly thankful.
This is my Aunt Brenda, Grandma Jo, and Uncle Gene. Jo and Gene's names are actually Daisy and Arley, but we're country folk, so they have nicknames of unknown origin. I spent a lot of time in this house as a child, being cared for my Grandma Jo and my Nan. Grandma Jo made all of the delicious food yesterday. They have all given me an appreciation for hard work, sacrifice, and family.
These are my cousins: Michael, Jessica, and Nick. I'm the oldest, and the shortest. Mike is 19, Jess is 13, and Nick is 16. I'm the oldest - and the shortest. We spent a lot of time playing and fighting in that living room as little kids, but as we've gotten older, it's been interesting to watch all of their personalities develop. Mike is at UC studying pharmacy, Jess is learning the drums, and Nick is a budding culinary whiz.
And now we move to my mom's side. That's my Uncle Bob, who I've called Uncle B forever, and Grandma Mary Alice aka M.A., or Memaw. Uncle B is responsible for exposing me to lots of good art and culture things, especially in downtown Cincinnati. He's constantly volunteering, and one of those annoying people who asks you to do surveys for Cunningham research. I pretend Memaw was like Betty Draper and she gave me some awesome 1960s overcoats last night. She's a good Irish Catholic woman who always tries to feed me and tell me about how handsome Clark Gable was.
And my parents, Ken and Mary Beth. I love this picture of them so much. My dad and I have an especially close relationship because our personalities are so alike and he does wonderful things like give me lucky wheat pennies, play me obscure vinyl records that I end up loving, and push me just enough to keep me on my toes. I am glad that I was always just geeky enough as a kid that I could appreciate things like when he'd take me to comic shops or let me watch Blade Runner. He's often a man of few words, but he makes them count. My mom and I are also super close, but in a different way. She's taught me all of my good groupie skills - the meaning of concert pockets, and how to stake out a band. Everything I know from the kitchen comes from her, Memaw, or Grandma Jo. She has always been 100% honest with me, even as a child, and because of that, I tell her everything when I talk to her daily on the phone. Both of them have been so loving and supportive that I know even when I fail, they'll never lose faith in me. I have been extremely lucky to grow up in a house where sarcasm and pop culture rule equally with silliness and support. They've always accepted me just as I was, and let me be exactly who I wanted to be, which is an independent young woman living in Chicago, being a geek, and blazing my own trail.
It struck me last night how much I love my family when they're all under one roof. I am so lucky. I remember so many good things about Thanksgivings past, and those who've come and left us. What I remember more than anything else is love, and laughter.
Don Draper knows...this is probably the most beautiful speech from the series thus far.
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