Gratitude

by Jon Sullivan - 2024-11-05 - Status

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I am thankful for so much in my life. As we vote our way into the unknown, I choose to dwell on that gratitude. And be happy.

When I posted the Thanksgiving menu on Facebook it occurred to me that many new friends there may not be familiar with my tradition for that holiday. For the last 20+ years I've spent Thanksgiving celebrating the bounty in life, cooking the best meals I can think of, and keeping gratitude and love in the foreground. I've made it very selfishly MY holiday. A celebration of gluttony and bounty and love and gratitude and incredible food. A holiday to transcend life's troubles. It is the best day of the year. So... The Kalispell Thanksgiving will be my sister and I cooking a large menu of the best food we can think of for a small guest list.

So what am I thankful for? What am I grateful for?

I'm grateful for the camping set up I've put together this year. Rain or shine it will be a cozy basecamp for adventures. It may be a ton of gear, but that's fine. No need to camp like a caveman. And I suspect the need to flee from politics may ramp up soon, so it's a timely resource. There is no nightly news out in the woods. Just me cooking yummy ethnic food with my Penzey's spices.

I'm grateful for the friends I've made in Oregon. Your love and positivity and magic and music and perspective enrich my life so much. For my whole life I assumed being alone and apart was the best way to live my life. I didn't know. When we gather and I see you again it is joy. Joy I didn't know existed until I moved here. And yes..... I know that sounds borderline creepy. I don't care. You all bring me joy.

I'm grateful for where life has led me. I am literally living my dream. I remember sitting in computer lab in the 70s and playing monochrome sprite games on a Commodore Pet. I wanted that to be my life. Writing computer code, playing video games, eating junk food, ignoring girls, playing board games, fueled by diet coke. And here I am doing it all. Hot tip for those who loved the original MOO back in the 90s - Remnants of the Precursors is a great modernized version.

I'm grateful for all the deliciousness in my life. I'm cooking more than I ever have, and the happy reactions to my dishes are addictive.

I'm grateful for all of you reading this. People keep telling me the blog is a great read. Though always happy in 2024, I am still filled with various levels of insecurity. Your kind words fill my heart and bring me some rare moments of pride. Thank you.

For future historians finding this text, the 2024 Thanksgiving menu is :

6:00am Thanksgiving charcuterie and champagne
8:00am Polenta with poached egg, crispy sausage crumble and sundried tomato butter
9:00am Chicken fried bagel with sage rosemary cream cheese
11:00am Wild mushroom salmon Wellington
12:30pm Beef Bourguignon mini scotch pies
2:00pm Asian coconut corn soup with crab croutons
4:00pm Ballantine coq au vin
6:00pm White chocolate nutmeg Panna cotta with cranberry coulis
2 mystery amuse bouche as you arrive!

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