This year I had the most unconventional Thanksgiving I’ve ever had. But it might go down in my book as one of the best.
Being far from family doesn’t get much easier as time goes on and the holidays are quite possibly the hardest times. But this year thanks to the wonders of Skype it was almost as if the ocean between us disappeared.
I was with my family in more than spirit this year but rather in my cyber form. We turned on Skype and I was passed around the room in a laptop computer. I got to say hello and give my love to everyone. I got to be a part of the same old jokes that always make me laugh.
I noticed in the background that some of the girls started to dance. And just as I would always be included if I was there, I couldn’t stop myself from dancing with them. Pretty soon I was on my feet dancing alone in my living room. Any neighbor peering through my window might have wondered what the hell I was doing, but I was simply dancing with my girls.
I also couldn’t resist the desire to smile for pictures. I had my picture taken with many people and it was like we were next to each other. A group shot was organized and as always took forever to set up. But I waited patiently on my grandmas lap for the timer to be set. With the many photos snapped I listed to my cue of “smile Alex!” I was waiting and actually hoping that someone would trip and fall while running into the shot. Always a classic!
Later they put on the slide-show of old family photos. I wanted to watch too so I sat down on the floor and enjoyed listening to the comments made with each new photo shown. It’s still hard for me to believe that I was 4000 miles away.
I love how nothing changes. Everyone was their usual self and the sights and sounds stay the same. I think it sounds cliché to say I have the best family in the world but I’ll throw caution into the wind and say it anyways. I have the best family in the world.