Last night was the pre-Thanksgiving feast at Buca di Beppo, an annual tradition maintained by my friend Garret. We eat and drink to expand our stomachs for Thanksgiving; we talk and laugh like there's not a care in the world. It's the kind of celebration that could easily outshine many Thanksgiving dinners, so it's hard to believe I get to celebrate again today.
This afternoon it's an "orphan" dinner at Beth's with a few good friends. I'm bringing the pies. I'm far from other loved ones, but even so, how can I be anything but thankful just to have them in my life? And so I am.