Justin and I have been together almost a year now. I met his mom, dad, and brother this past August. He met my mom and one of my sisters, who came for a visit, on November 11th. Now, on Thanksgiving, it's time to meet the rest of his family (the local ones, anyway). I'm not really nervous about it; they're people, just like my family. But it's going to be different.
In years past, I've known everyone (or at least almost everyone) at the Thanksgiving table, as I've usually been at home in Indiana. Two years ago, I spent Thanksgiving in London with Wabash College professors and classmates (my first-ever Thanksgiving not spent with family) because I was on an Immersion Trip for my senior seminar on Dickens and Hardy. We ate at a really good Italian place; it was a great time. And even last year, when I spent Thanksgiving at a (French) friend's place in Pennsylvania, where we had a raclette dinner (which was amazing, by the way), I knew 50-75% of the people beforehand.
This year, for the first time ever, I'll only know a few of the people I'm dining with on Thanksgiving. It's not a bad thing...just different. I guess it's time to start new traditions. I hate the word "partner," in a gay context, but I suppose that's what's going on here. I'm a partner in this relationship, and that means spending holidays with family – his and mine. It feels kind of nice, actually; I haven't had anything like this for a few years now, not since I was "straight."
I really do love this time of year. Thanksgiving isn't even here yet, and I've already got Christmas on the brain (sorry Kari; I know you don't care for it). I've been listening to the Glee Christmas album, and I'm this close to grabbing my DVD of A Christmas Story and putting it on repeat. If nothing else, it would remind me of Christmas in small-town Indiana, where I'm from, since that's where the movie takes place – but, weirdly, it was shot in Lori's neck of the woods (Cleveland).
In any case, "the holidays" are here, and that means finals are just around the corner. Good luck, everyone!
Classic...and yes it is weird that it is actually set in Indiana because there is a scene with Winterfest...which I will be attending this weekend, and in that scene they show downtown Cleveland. If you ever come visit me in Cleveland I can take you to the Christmas Story Museum. It's at the house it was filmed at and it always has the Leg Lamp in the window. :P
ReplyDeleteYeah, I should go to Cleveland sometime. According to Rupert Giles, there's a Hellmouth there...
ReplyDeleteIt raises my heart to know that you're getting in the Christmas spirit, often this time of year makes me really grumpy. Hope your Thanksgiving goes really well - be sure to speak loudly to the grandparents :)
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