My Family: A hilarious Thanksgiving Day!

I grew up in Westchester, New York, a county that by most standards is as American and white-picket-fence-y as they come. However, I don't recall a Thanksgiving turkey until I was about 12 or 13. It was at my good friend, Lizzie-Burks' house, because I spent almost every waking hour at her house anyway. I remember being anxious and uneasy about the traditions and the grace and the forks and the knives... cranberry sauce? ...everything. Cutting food into bite-sized pieces was a skill I had to wait a few more years to acquire.
It was when I turned 18 that I decided to have a Thanksgiving dinner of my own. C-meister helped with the turkey and the mashed potatos. We made biscuits and string beans too. My friends came over after their own dinners and were surprised to find a table filled with foods fit to eat. Mom and dad didn't even believe it was possible, so they brought food home from the restaurant. Jerks.
I got used to a lack of holiday spirit in my household. I got used to spending these so-called family holidays at homes of friends... good friends. Like, T-Kay for example. Her holiday events will always have a special place in my heart. She likes to think her family is disfunctional, but in all honesty, does anyone have a "normal" family, with considerate siblings, sane grandparents, and perpetually happy moms? I don't think so.
I have to say though, after losing any hope or aspirations for a family day, I couldn't have been more surprised this year. Happy tears are welling up behind my eyes just thinking about it. My dad woke me up late morning, on Thanksgiving 2010. "Heyy! Are we still going to the beach today?" with a hint of excitement and a small grin on his face. No chance I'd say no. so we packed the car, mom, dad, me and Khanster and headed to South Padre Island.
Do you know what I love about Texans? They think 75 degrees farenheit is too cold out. So our band of four stepped out into the deserted sand dunes of Beach #6 and ran to the waters. Mom collected seashells and shrieked everytime the waves crashed too close. Dad battled Khanster for king of the waves. It was a sight to see. Later, Mom, afraid of sand in the car, made us all rinse off with bottled water in the trunk(Picture Note: Khanster fighting a off foot scrub from dad). Dinner was fun. We all watched dad eat like the half-ton man and then went home for some ping pong action to work off some of the 8000 calories we consumed.

I couldn't have had a better day. Thank you family. Thank you friends. Thank you, thanksgiving days for a day to dwell on what makes my life so amazing.