Every year between the craziness of Halloween and the excitement of Christmas comes a month that most people just kind of glaze over.  This would be November, home to winter sports tryouts, play productions, and, of course, that ever famous week off school for that  one holiday…Thanksgiving!  Whether spending your Thanksgiving week at home watching Netflix and eating takeout, watching the Macy’s Day Parade, or traveling far and wide to celebrate with family and eat enough food to feed an army, Thanksgiving is a time for traditions and reflection.

When I think of Thanksgiving, I immediately picture my grandmother’s house and can almost smell the turkey that cooks throughout the night.  For the past few years I’ve spent the night there and helped my grandmother cook the turkey, which is quite a lengthy process.  I also think of my family getting together (which doesn’t happen often) and laughing and eating way too much food.  And then at about 2 p.m., my family will leave my grandmother’s house and go to my aunt’s house to have ANOTHER Thanksgiving meal.  I think it’s safe to say that I don’t really feel like eating much in the following days.

As we count down the few days to Thanksgiving break, we should try to take some time to reflect and look at just how much we have to be thankful for the friends we have, the educational opportunities we pursue, and the various “after-school” activities that give us time to be ourselves and hang out with friends.  This year, instead of just looking forward to that week of freedom and cramming homework at the end, focus on what the week is dedicated to, and, of course, have a Happy Thanksgiving!