thankful

we have
a lot
to be
thankful for
this year
more than
any other year.

i finished
my phd.

we moved
to switzerland.

we had
a little
girl.



sometimes
we forget
amidst
the worrying
about
this and that.



we tend
to focus
on what
we do not have
because
sometimes
these things
seem
insurmountable.
those are
the things
that use to
keep us up at night
before
we had a baby.



i won't
deny that
we are often
lonely
far away
from
family
and friends.
it seems
strange
to be lonely
when
i have grub
and
he has me
and
we have
wee grub.



but
anyone who
has moved
knows
this
type of
loneliness
well.

plus
parenthood
can be
quite
isolating
in its
own way...



we are
home for
long stretches
of time
focused
on
the care
of
one little person
which would
seem
to be
a
very simple task.
but
it takes
all your time
and
you
are
suddenly
absent
from all
social
interactions
until you
can muster
up the energy
to face
the world
outside.



for
these reasons
celebrating
thanksgiving
seemed especially
important
to us
this year.

we searched
for the
traditional
ingredients
in neuchâtel
and
finally found
a whole turkey
but
i failed
to find
pumpkin
in a can.
grub
cooked
up a storm.



i dressed
wee grub
in the
appropriate
turkey day
garb.



a little
pair
of socks
arrived
in the mail
from eliza
to complete
the outfit.
and
we celebrated
with our
new friends.



as we move
into
the
holiday season
in a foreign land
we will
savor
what we can
of
our new life
and
enjoy
time
with new friends.



we send
our love
home
to those
we miss
but
we will
see them
again
very soon.



hope
you all
had
a
wonderful
thanksgiving.

xo