file under: yes, virginia, there really is a thanksgiving

N was scheduled to work a half-day on thursday, which means we both knew she'd be gone before i got home. that, in turn, meant that i wouldn't see her until i woke up thursday evening.

and that's basically what happened: i finally got out of bed a little after 7pm and then, on my way to the bathroom, noticed that there was ALL KINDS OF DELICIOUS FOOD in the kitchen! like, actual thanksgiving-type delicious food! wow! for a second there, it felt more like christmas, like waking up to bing crosby on the radio and presents under the tree waiting to be unwrapped.

N had orchestrated the whole thing (secretly, as is her wont sometimes) at least a few days ahead of time, obscuring the groceries as best she could in the fridge and on our makeshift "pantry". the scheduled half-day of work even fit in, as she'd be home in the early afternoon, all the better to get everything together while i coma'd away in oblivious slumber. how perfect!

and it was. we flew to seattle for the canadian thanksgiving weekend in october, so i was already resigned to foregoing the holiday completely this year (which, for just 2 people, can be an easy resignation to forego). but we still had turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, and even (perhaps most amazingly) pumpkin pie, something our high-end supermarket hasn't carried all year (not even during canada's own thnxgiving, much to our surprise and disappointment).

for that gift of unexpected holiday cheer, and for every other day that we spend together, i have to say that i am most gratefully thankful for my wife and for the love she never fails to show me.