Flying Turkeys- Mikaela Gatewood

My family doesn't really have any set Thanksgiving traditions. In fact, I can't remember the last time we did the same thing two years in a row on the holiday. Instead of having the traditional sit down meal, we occupy ourselves by traveling, going to a friend's house, cooking a small dinner, or going out to eat. The lack of consistency is mainly due to the fact that my grandma goes to my uncle's house over Thanksgiving, and without her amazing cooking we're hopelessly lost when trying to recreate it ourselves. But despite our inconsistent plans and usual lack of turkey, I still love Thanksgiving. Even though I'm often neglected mashed potatoes and stuffing, my family has still managed to maintain the spirit of the holiday. We spend the day together, filled with my dad cracking inappropriate jokes, us laughing about our inability to cook, and my mom insisting on giving bits of food to my dog Georgia. At the end of the evening we always made sure to tell each other how thankful we are, and how we appreciate the great people we have around us. It's become a great time to reflect and acknowledge how lucky we are to have each other. It's during this time of year that I feel closest to my family, and for that it's by far one of my favorite holidays.