Never Alone

I grew up pretty in the Midwest and live on the East Coast. With my family still located in the square states, I don't often share the holidays with family. Well - let me say that another way, I don't often spend the holidays with the family that raised me. I have always spent holidays with family.

In the past 5 years I have received numerous invitations for all of the major holidays. I can't remember a holiday where I was concerned about what I was going to do - I was more concerned that I didn't want to hurt someone's feelings by turning down an invitation. My ego likes to tell tales of friends battling over getting to me first. :)

This wasn't always the case. I've grown up a lot, and heck - I've just grown. I've gone through all the phases and hopefully come out the other side. But I can easily reflect on the times where there were not multiple invites - and times the phone never rang.

I can also say, I'm grateful for food on the table and friends.

I'm fortunate enough to have a great deal of choices. There is a quote out there about the richest man has the most choices, not the greatest balance in his account and I agree with that. This year, some friends carried on a tradition of having a Thanksgiving-eve dinner. Since we've been getting milk, eggs and other various items delivered by South Mountain Creamery, we ordered a turkey from them this year as well.

The meal was perfect. The company was awesome. What makes the experience over the top is a lot of the ingredients were local. Why does that matter? Values really. Yeah, more and more is outsourced which drives down prices and increases efficiencies (a good thing in a lot of ways). Buying local does all those "lower your carbon footprint" things along with fueling the local economy. I'd far rather add a few bucks in a local farmer's pocket... a farmer, by the way, that feeds cows grass, doesn't use drugs unless they need them and actually lets that animal see sun and walk... That farmer hires local drivers. Local workers. Instead of the opposite...

I feel better about that. A lot better.

Someone argued with me once "but you're one person, and can't really make that big of an impact." The only thing I have to say in response is: Let it begin with me... I won't be alone for long.