Thanksgiving+Contest+Entry+~A

Thanksgiving

I sit at the table surrounded by family. We talk of everything - funny stories at school, my cousin's car accident, life at college, how "weird" we are.

I smile and join in the many conversations. The evening passes itself by and soon enough, it's time for food- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">what I thought was <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">my favorite part of the holiday.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">I'd never really <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">thought about <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">what the important part <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">of Thanksgiving <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">truly was- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">the "Thanks."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">My uncle <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">says a prayer. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">The family <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">is in a circle <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">around the table, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">holding hands, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">heads down.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">I take a peek <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">at those who surround me. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">My weird family. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">My special family. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">__My__ family.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">I think <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">about what I have. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Many people don't get to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">experience <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">this. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">Thanksgiving, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">a holiday where <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">I am enveloped <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">by people I love, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">and the people <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">who love me. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">There are people <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">in this world <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">with no one <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">looking out for them <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">with no one <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">and nothing <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">to be thankful for.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">But I have that.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">The food <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">is on the table. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">And I don't want to eat. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">I give <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">each family member <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">a hug. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">They ask me why <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">and I say <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">just because.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">But what I'm thinking <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">is because I'm grateful- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">really, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">truly, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">grateful- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">for what I have. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%;">And I never want to lose it.