15 in 5

Because I love a list. Especially a random list.

1. I’ve been on 11 planes since Labor Day. For business travelers, that might not be impressive, but I don’t travel for work. I wish it’d been vacation travel.
2. Even though I missed my people (and my bed), I’m glad to have been able to see my far away family.
3. Many folks out there need a refresher course on airplane etiquette. First of all, armrests are a necessity. If you don’t use them, we’re basically all sitting on a tiny couch together. With seat belts.  Awkward.
4. Just because we can’t hear it doesn’t mean we can’t smell it. Gross.
5. I almost always choose the window seat, because I like the views. I like to try and figure out what state we’re flying over. Apparently the lady in the middle seat on my flight to Tampa felt the same way. I know this because I could feel hear breathing on my neck. She was that close.
6. I’m delighted that she didn’t try talking to me. Am I the only one who hates when people try to chit chat on a plane? I always sit down and immediately assume the “I’m reading” position.
7. I suppose I should give random chatter another chance. The few conversations I’ve had in airports or on a plane have actually been enjoyable. Nope. I think I’ll still keep to myself.
8. Does that make me an unkind person? I hope not. I have encountered some awfully mean people lately. Mean people suck.
9. Unfortunately, most mean people don’t realize just how mean they are. I wish we could tell them, but they won’t listen. They don’t see it. No one is perfect all the time, but sheesh.
10. This year, we’re away from Augusta during Thanksgiving break for the first time in about 13 years. At first, I was sad, because we will miss our Augusta people, but Thanksgiving at the beach might not be that bad after all. 75 degrees and salty air feel pretty good.
11. I’m cooking all of Thanksgiving dinner. I haven’t done that since high school. I have my mother in law’s giblet gravy recipe, I’m grilling the turkey and even making my own cranberry sauce, and I’m debating which dressing to make. Cornbread is traditional, but oyster might be better. I’m a pro at making mashed potatoes, and you can’t ruin green beans, can you?  Don’t screw it up, Jenny.
12. If I do screw it up, everyone will survive on fresh boiled shrimp and cold beer, dontcha think?
13. Speaking of mashed potatoes, when I came to my first Thanksgiving in Augusta, I offered to bring one of the few things I knew I could make well. No one was bringing them already. They didn’t have mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving. They had rice. Maybe it’s a southern thing, but my Thanksgiving plate isn’t complete without buttery mashed potatoes.
14. Although I’ve had to travel quite a bit, I’m so glad I was able to attend my cousin Stacy’s funeral last weekend. It was horribly sad, but it was beautiful. There were dozens of flower arrangements, hundreds of people, and plenty of tears.  Amazing Grace on the bagpipes gets me every time. We always say it, but funerals bring us together. I’m thankful for that.
15. I spent today with my brothers Elliot and Noel, Noel’s girlfriend Ashley, The Man, The Boy, The Girl and my dad. We’re all here to celebrate my Dad’s 60^th birthday. We played in the sand, and it was even warm enough to swim in the ocean. It’s a much needed vacation. Happy birthday, Dad, and cheers, y’all!