Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
My tummy is full of turkey. I am stretched out on my recliner. I have a cup of coffee in one hand and a New York Times crossword in the other. I am watching the Bears and Cowboys on Fox. A cold wind drives the rain against the window. It is, by all accounts, a typical Thanksgiving Day in Beirut, Lebanon.
I imagine some people find that hard to believe. Twenty-four pound turkeys do exist outside the US. As does satellite TV and comfortable furniture.
Beirut is a modern city and the people here enjoy family, friends and food.
Just like home.
I am thankful for many things this year. I have finally changed my eating habits and lost weight. Enough weight that I have replaced my wardrobe, am able to play tennis and ultimate Frisbee every week and I ran a 10K race last month. I feel great.
I have also succeeded professionally this year. I presented a workshop at an international teachers conference and have implemented new assessment and reporting methods in my classroom.
Best of all, I met a woman named Marcey. We met during the first week of school and we clicked instantly. We have everything in common and feel like we were meant to be together. I have never laughed so much or so easily with any other woman. We really know each other well and couldn't be happier together.
It's almost time for pie so I'll wrap up here and say happy holidays.
Tomorrow I'll be shopping for a Christmas tree and putting up lights.
Although the Lebanese don't celebrate American Thanksgiving, half of them do celebrate Christmas and the last weekend in November seems to be a universal advent to the holiday season.