Monday, November 28, 2011

thankful

thanksgiving7

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.

thanksgiving1

sometimes
we forget
amidst
the worrying
about
this and that.

thanksgiving2

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.

thanksgiving3

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.

thanksgiving4

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

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

thanksgiving6

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.

thanksgiving5

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.

thanksgiving9

i dressed
wee grub
in the
appropriate
turkey day
garb.

thanksgiving10

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

thanksgiving8

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.

thanksgiving11

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

thanksgiving12

hope
you all
had
a
wonderful
thanksgiving.

xo

4 comments:

lisa solomon said...

parenting is not at all simple.
and some of the loneliest days i've ever spent were being in love with my baby but all alone.
putting being in a brand new environment on top of that and you are entitled to feel lonely. indeed.

i bet your meal was great though... and if you are still an ex-pat next year i can send you any goodies you might need for a more "american" style thanksgiving...
hugs

gracia said...

Popping up to say hello to you in the wilds of a new land to discover. Big, daunting, happy things ahead... and it is perfectly understandable that you'd feel lonely.

xo

Sungopolis said...

Bugsy, I know what it's like to feel lonely. But I always have to remind myself that feeling lonely is not the same as being alone. And you're certainly not alone - all those lovely faces at your Thanksgiving dinner (including Wee Grub - hello!) and all your far-flung friends who think of you fondly. Snail mail coming soon!

deedeen said...

Hi there, just found your blog via Ravelry. It's nice!

For the pumpkin in can, did you look at "Les Gourmets"?