196 : Give Thanks

9 years ago, my friends and I decided to get together for Thanksgiving.  It wasn't the actual holiday, it was just on a weekend close to Thanksgiving.  The host made the turkey and everyone brought sides for passing.  We got together on a Sunday so we could have football on for the occasion, as to mimic the true holiday.  And then we all got wasted.  So much so, that everyone agreed when we did it the following year, we had to have it on a Saturday.  We continued to have the event the following year.  And the next.  And the next.  Until at some point, we realized that this year's friends thanksgiving was the 9th annual.  And to think it all started in a random rental coach house in Lincoln Park.  A lot had happened in those 9 years.  Weddings.  Children.  Divorce.  Remarriage.  More children.  Life had happened.  But one thing had remained consistent throughout out all: our unique and true friendships between one another.  Just in the past year alone, so much had happened.  Two friends had become mothers for the first time.  Three friends had purchased houses in the suburbs.  One friend was newly pregnant.  And another friend had just recently learned she and her family would be relocating to Australia.  I, of course, had gotten divorced.  But that's not all.  I had been reminded time and time again how amazing my friends were and that no matter what, we would always be there for each other.  Yes, life would continue to throw curve balls to all of us.  But we'd always have Friends Thanksgiving.  And we'd always have each other.  That, indeed, was something to be thankful for.