[ Blogger's note: Seeing as I will be extremely busy the next few days with family, friends and belated shopping, I thought to post this earlier rather than possibly never. ]

When I was much younger, beardless and ignorant, I never got Thanksgiving. Oh sure, I knew what it was supposed to entail yet all I could piece together from it in my mind was the gathering of family members not seen since last Thanksgiving and the gorging of food. That and the time mark that when it was over, Christmas, the real deal holiday with presents, was around the corner. All my untrained eye saw back then were the typical bickering that would eventually blossom here and there amongst my family, the squeezing of cheeks from aunts, and my dad coaxing me to play the guitar as he sang rather badly in Spanish. Being Puerto Rican, the watching of football games on TV were nonexistent, as we considered real football soccer so the eating of food and indulging in alcohol were at the forefront of our holiday activities.

Highlights of Thanksgiving then were my cousins and I sneaking the occasional game of Street Fighter in my room before we were nabbed and corralled grudgingly back into the den with everybody else, eating Flan, and having to drink some Coquito, a Spanish alcohol mixed drink that my dad would allow for the holidays, with the rest of the men. But really that was about it for me. I used to feel a rush of relief when it was all over and everybody was gone. Lets go Christmas already. I wanted presents, I wanted the pageantry of it with the sparkling lights, decorative tinsel, and even the retarded music that accompanied it. I always thought my most cherished memories would be of Christmas.

As it turns out, it wasn't past Christmases that I remember vividly now but prior Thanksgivings. Looking back now, it was those times with the many members of my family and friends that resonate. The time when my cousin snuck into my dad's bar and got drunk off of rum puking his guts out in front of everybody, the time when playing outside I ran my bike into my grandfather's van, the booming drunken laughter of everybody and yes, the bickering that would erupt and even my dad singing badly. I never realized then what all I had to give thanks for ( being a spoiled brat ) but I do now. It's your family, your friends, and the good health that is giving you yet another day to laugh, love, play...to live.

Older, slightly more wiser, I appreciate more Thanksgiving and while younger I knew what it all entailed, giving thanks to the many blessings you have, I savor the day now as much as that taste of Coquito and that extra helping of Flan I had way back when. Here's wishing you all here have a great and blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends. And if you happen to sneak out to your room and boot up SFIV on your gaming console, who knows you may find me online just long enough for few fights before my wife will corral my old ass back into the den.