Last Thanksgiving, there was much to be grateful for. Gatherings with family could safely be reinstituted, and the joy over that surpassed the mashed potato bliss. However, Jason and I didn’t let what we learned the previous year be forgotten amongst the delight of togetherness. Namely, a Thanksgiving meal with just the two of us is not only delectable but also highly enjoyable. Getting together with family is great. Getting away from family is also great. It’s funny how human beings can appreciate conflicting things, but why complain about having more to be grateful for?

For decades, Thanksgiving has been a hectic and exhausting day for Jason and me. Trying to please both families regularly leaves us with overstuffed bellies and too much on our plates. This year, we split our meals with kin over three days, which was doable but tiring, nonetheless. I don’t think I can go back to squeezing in two massive gatherings on the same day. We love our families, but the stress and fatigue of trying to bake dishes, keep to unrealistic timelines, and still enjoy company is often too much. The ideal empty-stomach-space-to-cranberry-sauce-volume ratio is almost always exceeded, and that just ain’t right.

Jason and I made sure we reserved a night during our holiday weekend for just the two of us to make and consume a homemade meal together. This banquet included all the favorites we tried the year before. Cooking a fancy meal with my hubby ticked my relaxing box not my heartburn box because that boy is the perfect addition to everything, even sweet potatoes.

So, here’s my post-isolation realization: I’m grateful for our families. I’m grateful holiday gatherings with them are again possible. I am also thankful for time spent away from them. Let us give thanks for all of life’s wonderful contradictions.