Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. Without question. The reason is because I get to relax. I've decided that I love being relaxed and I spend far too little time in that state of mind. On Thanksgiving, my biggest duty is to drive my wife's grandmother from her assisted living home to my in-law's house. That's it.

I don't have to cook.
I don't have to clean.
I just have to eat.
And drink.
Then sleep.

I'd take a hefty pay cut if I could relax on a full-time basis. So, in the spirit of relaxation, here's a salute to my few-and-far-between opportunities to unwind from the stresses of my own making:

1. That first sip of Sapporo at the local Sushi joint on a Monday before poker.
2. That first sip of a dirty Grey Goose martini at PF Chang's on a Monday before poker. (See a pattern?)
3. An empty house, a drink, and an online table in front of me.
4. Massage therapy, even without a happy ending, after 3 months of good workouts.
5. Both kids out of the house, accounted for and a rare dinner with the Mrs. in an uncrowded restaurant.
6. Fully rested, David Gilmour's On An Island playing in my car on an empty stretch of highway, traveling to It Don't Matter City.
7. Sharing some one-on-one time with either kid doing just about anything with the caveat that they're well-behaved.
8. Beach. Tide. Sun. Margarita with salt.
9. Saturday afternoon nap.
10. Sip of Scotch on my front porch sitting in a rocking chair during sunset.

I'm really looking forward to the next two days. Relaxing on one, and most definitely NOT relaxing on the other. Have a safe day if you're traveling.