your family is always with you, no matter where you are.

I’ve spent holidays away from my family before; many times because of work. So, missing Thanksgiving this year was no different. However, I actually didn’t have to work this year, but since moving out of South Dakota, it was not feasible to drive back for the holiday; it’s quite a drive. So, Thanksgiving felt a little different this year.

For the past few years, my mom has ordered me a Thanksgiving meal from some place to make sure that I am still able to partake in stuffing my face; the holiday ritual. This year was no different; but it felt different. It started out like any other day that I’d normally have off. Wake up at 7:30 am, let Tucker out, turn on the news and drink my cup of coffee but of course had to do our family’s tradition of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

As I’m watching the parade, a weird feeling came over me. A feeling I couldn’t explain it until later in the day. Around 9 am,  Zac, my brother, sent me a picture of my niece saying “Happy Thanksgiving, Uncle Ren!” which of course made me smile. I continued watching the parade and every once and awhile I was just smile. The smile was from thinking of the different memories I have of that exact day with my family. My dad waking us up with breakfast in bed, the smell my mom’s turkey that has been in the oven for a hour already, racing down to the living room to get all settled in to watch the parade. After the parade was done, I just felt a little down. Sitting there with Tucker still not knowing what exactly this weird feeling was all about. So, I just went about my day as normal.

I thought to myself, “I miss my family.”

Once I picked up my Thanksgiving meal from Hy-Vee my mom had ordered me and I started preparing it for dinner, that’s when it finally hit me of what that weird feeling was. As I was pulling the turkey boob and ham out of the oven, a couple of tears rolled down my cheek. I thought to myself, “I miss my family.” That feel was of loneliness on a holiday that is supposed to be full of thankfulness and family. Now, yes, I do have a roommate so I wasn’t completely alone. But that is a different type of feeling. Holidays just have the stigma of being with family.

After a few more tears and putting my big boy pants on (I change out of sweatpants into jeans), I cut up the turkey boob and ham, got the mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, buns and green bean casserole ready for when  my roommate got home from work. I felt better once Crystal got there, not so alone. But throughout the day, I just kept thinking, “I wondering what my family is doing now.” Every time I thought that, two songs popped into my head; one was “93 Million Miles” by Jason Mraz and the other was “Home” by Philip Phillips.

Never take [your] family for granted.

Two lines in “93 Million Miles” always get me. “Oh, my my how beautiful, oh my beautiful mother; she told me, ‘Son in life you’re gonna go far; if you do it right you’ll love where you are; just know; wherever you go, you can always come home.’” and “Oh, my my how beautiful, oh my irrefutable father; he told me, ‘Son sometimes it may seem dark, but the absence of the light is a necessary part; just know, you’re never alone, you can always come back home.’” “Home” by Philip Phillips pretty much explains itself.

A long winded story to simply come down to the moral, never take [your] family for granted. If you have a family, enjoy them, be with them, think of them often if you can’t be with them. Family is one of the most important things in your life, and they will always be there for you no matter where you are.

Sometimes I forget this, but there is ALWAYS something to be thankful in your life.

And because this is Thanksgiving, here are a few things that I am thankful for: my family, Tucker, a warm apartment/bed, waking up each with air in my lungs to go do better in the world.

I hope everyone had a fulfilling Thanksgiving full of family, laughs and love.