Thanksgiving

Ok, well let's start with a list of things that I'm thankful for. Generic things, but I'll expand, don't worry. I'm thankful for my family, the friends, for being free and living in a free country, my horse, my car, and I'm sure that I'll think of more as I go along.

So I'm thankful for my family. But more importantly, I'm thankful that I get along with my family. My mom and I get along and I can relate to my dad easily because we are both the youngest child in our families. My brother and I act like siblings, annoying and bickering when we are together but caring and respectful when it really matters. He's always the first person taking pictures at a special time like the NHS induction or my 8th grade graduation.

My family is not limited to just my parents and brother, but extends to all aspects of my family. I have members of my family who aren't even blood related, but are more a part of my life than actual cousins or aunts and uncles. I'm thankful for these members of my family as well.

I'm thankful for my friends. I have the type of friends that can call each other losers and nerds and stuff like that, but you know that they love you anyway. They're the type of people that would pull your chair away as you go to sit down, laugh, then make sure that you're ok. And I know that I can always talk to them about anything. They're also the type of friends where we can not see each other for weeks at a time, like over the summer, but when we start hanging out it's like a day hasn't gone by.

I think I have to say here that I'm thankful for my past and my future to come. Everything that I've done in my past has helped mold me into the person I am today. Sometimes I don't like this person that I've become, but I think I'm a pretty good version of what I am. Sorry if that sounds confusing. Even though I hated the big fight I had with two of my friends in 8th grade, it really helped me see what matters. And see who is really going to stay friends with you or just fizzle out. Why boys really aren't a good thing to fight about. Sorry, again, if that offends anyone.

We started talking about this next topic in Psychology last week. Being thankful for being free. We live in a country where you can pretty much do whatever you want, but with limits. I'm not saying that I can go rob a bank and get away with it, but as far as school goes, I am not required to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. I mean, yes, I have to stand up and be respectful, but I don't have to say it. And I'm thankful for that.

On a different note, I'm thankful that my parents decided to raise their family in the country. I love being able to see the sky at night and the stars. My mom always tells me about how she loved working in the city for a few years. Her family had a small apartment in the city and she told me how she used to live there part time in the summer. But seriously, I don't like the city. [referring to NYC of course.] It's too big, too busy, too loud, too polluted. I love being able to breath in fresh air, see cows in the fields near my house no matter where I go. [Thank you Erin for proof reading this!]

As cheesy as it sounds, I'm thankful for my horse, Joseph. He's like a best friend that never complains because obviously he can't talk back. I'm sure almost every little girl has dreamed of owning a pony and riding around their neighborhood. Some of us are lucky enough to grow up and get a horse of their own. Now he's not exactly mine, but for the most part he is. My name is on the nameplate on his stall door as the owner. And that makes me smile more than anything. I heard someone say that "horse girls" [as we are affectionately called sometimes] know what they want. They take control of almost every situation and they do what they have to get what they want. I guess that's true, and I guess I've never realized why I like to be the leader in a group. I guess there's something to be said for the fact that as a sport I like to ride a 2,000 lbs. animal. Ok, so maybe Joseph isn't that big, but Oliver is, and I've ridden him.

I think here is where I should add that I'm thankful for my riding instructor who has shown me a whole new way of riding and loving horses. Between March and May of Freshman year I was thrown off two horses and got hurt pretty bad. The first time I didn't think anything of it, but the second time was quite different. I call it the "Shorty Incident" but I don't expect anyone else to understand that. This horse I was riding, Shorty, took off with me on him. He ran out of the ring and kept on running for about 2 miles until he decided to stop and visit with a random pony he saw in a field on a road near by. I, needless to say, bailed out pretty quickly, jumping off the horse as he ran into my mom's car and kept going. Ok, anyway, I'm thankful that I wasn't hurt too seriously, just a lot of bruises,[well actually I didn't even bruise that time. Weird since I fell into a gravel parking lot] a trip to the hospital, A LOT of x-rays, and a crazy x-ray technician who made racecar sounds as he pushed my bed through the building into the x-ray room. Let me get more specific about the number of x-rays. The first time I got thrown off I suffered a fracture in my back and a whole bunch more x-rays. After that, the orthopedist [the bone doctor] discovered that I had a slight case of scoliosis and said I needed even more x-rays.

Ok, I'm definitely rambling now so I'll stop. But really I'm thankful for second chances. I guess the main second chance I'm thankful is the second chance I've gotten to love horses and to love riding. And I'm pretty sure I've reached my "I'm not afraid of anything anymore" point, my "just get over it" point, and I'm grateful for that. Because now I can enjoy riding even more. Right, I'm rambling. Ok the next thing I'm grateful for....

I'm thankful for my car, or uh, truck rather. My parents kind of spoil me so they helped me pay for my vehicle. I'm thankful that they trust me enough to let me drive around on my own. I'm thankful that they understand the demands of where we live and made sure that I got a vehicle with 4-wheel drive. I know 4-wheel drive will not protect me from everything, but it gives me the confidence to drive carefully and safely in bad weather. I must be a decent driver if my friend trusted me enough to drive her to school on Monday when it was snowing.

I know most of the things on my list are pretty generic and apply to most people. But other things on my list are different and specific to me. I guess I'll just sum up the things on my list. My family, My friends and the friendships I've created throughout the years, my past and my future, my country and where I live, my horse, new opportunities, second chances, and my car. I'm sure I could go on and on for a pretty long time but I won't bore anyone who's going to read this.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!!