Day 172-175*--Turkeys, family, and vampires

 "I need eyeliner!" I shouted behind me as I raced through the airport looking for black eyeliner of any brand or price before take-off.  I look like a 15 year old without eye liner.  Alas, I couldn't find any in the airport, so Thanksgiving began with a heavy backpack, excited expectations for turkey and family, and naked eye lids for 4 days.

I've spent 4 of the past 5 Thanksgivings with my boyfriend's family and I was really looking forward to it again.  Sometimes I wish I could scoop them up and take them for my own. 

My boyfriend and I were picked up from the airport by his parents, who have about a 2 second rebound of loving each other completely to bickering like it was going out of style.  I love them.  This Thanksgiving it would be them, us, his sister-in-law, her parents, and his college freshmen bro.  It was the perfect ratio for good conversations and nights of relaxing games after days of snow. 

A tradition that my boyfriend started a few years ago was calling all of his friends on Thanksgiving, and I've taken part in the idea ever since.  I called my friends back at party-school ASU who answered the phone, "We're cooking turkey in our bras!"  I miss them terribly.   I called one of my oldest friends who's been concerned about me lately and had nothing but support.  I really need it.  I called my grandma who was in her reminiscing mood and talked for about 30 minutes about people I never met.  I called my mom who was on the phone with my Aunt Gena and we exchanged a quick hello which was better than a guilt trip for why I wasn't there with her.  But the phone call that mattered most was the one I made to Chicago.

My friend and I both worked at Starbucks for 4 years while pursuing the arts and boyfriend drama.  We both graduated in May, with me heading out to San Diego to break into publishing, and she heading out to Chicago to break into the dance scene.

We're both in comforting misery.  She applied to job after job and could only find work part-time at Whole Foods, and I told her about working the front desk at the hotel and hating every minute of it.  She can't afford dance classes to keep up her craft and I can't afford another internship while paying rent.  We talked about how much we missed college and those post-college blues no one warns you about.  It seems like most of us have been in a quiet depression and it was nice to hear we weren't alone.  She's still going to try though and so will I.  I laughed and told her about that Kill Bill quote when O-Ren Ishii asks the Bride, "Did you really think it was going to be that easy?" In her bloody suit and sword The Bride answers calming, "You know, for a minute there, yeah, I actually did."  Yeah.  We graduates actually did.

Dinner time, and the turkey was excellent and very sweet.  The cranberry was yummy, I fucking love dinner rolls, and the sweet potatoes could have used more marshmallows but I think I ate most of the pan during the time I was there.  The only thing missing was a green bean casserole (sauteed spinach and salad was served instead), so when we have our own holiday potluck in SD, I'll be sure to make a green bean dish.

A few of us hit the spa after dinner.  It was the first time I've worn a bikini in months and I was super happy I'm back to being flat.  I love being skinny, but it's a real curse to be 90 pounds and 4'11''.  If I gain any weight what so ever (like the 4-5 pounds I gained post-college) then it immediately looks like I'm pregnant.  Apparently moving+no food in the house equals a flat stomach! [not recommend].

The next day I decided to go ice skating for a little bit.  It's one of the few sports I actually like and I wanted to get some time in before the movie. I texted him where I was just in case and waiting patiently in the locker room.

I was wholly surprised when he showed up 10 minutes later.  He walked me to the rink and tied my skates for me.  He said he's be rooting for me on the sidelines and would wave enthusiastically each time I skated by which made me laugh.  He joined me on the ice sometime later in his normal shoes.  "80%?" he said to me.  "What?" I asked.  We saw a Tyler Perry movie a long time ago about the 80-20 rule in a relationship.  No relationship is 100%, but if you're getting 80% of what you want, at least it's well-balanced between your wants and theirs.

"More like 62%," I replied with a smile.  He mocked hurt.  "Even after ice skating and the shoes?" he asked sweetly.  "Alright, 73%," I laughed.

Dinner was fantastic.  The s-i-l's mom made her famous moussaka, a Romanian eggplant dish with beef.  Now, here's a secret: a I can't stand eggplant.  I try so hard to fake it, especially to the 3 people who've made it for me this year (is eggpant a food of choice this year?).  What I love about her mom is that she figured it out, and in her charm and forwardness she separated just the meat and gave me a nice portion.  I might not like eggplant, but moussaka meat is absolutely fantastic if you ever get the opportunity to try it.

The college bro left a day early to be with his girlfriend.  I have to say, I'm so very impressed by him.  He has humor, responsibility, honor, and he has his shit together.  I couldn't be prouder if he was my own brother.

The bf, s-i-l, and I went to Breaking Dawn: Part 1.  His sister-in-law was cracking me up the whole time by asking those 'wtf' moments that happen every few minutes in a Twilight movie.  Holy fuck it was hilarious.  Then disturbing.  After each creepy blood/dying/16 and Pregnant scene I would whisper to her, "this is what happens when you have sex."  I hope I get to see the last film with her too--she's been my favorite movie partner by far.  Periodically I would look over to my boyfriend's confused face.  Indeed.  

I got to go ice skating one last time Saturday before our plane.  The bf walked with me as I skated and held my hand  We talked about our roommates and the language of science not being translatable to the masses. 

And so we were off.  I wished for that plane to take me back to Arizona.  Back to college.  Back to my favorite apartment with the colorful candles, lanterns, and throw pillows.  Back to my friends who could talk about anal sex and the world's problems over lunch without batting an eyelash.  Back to my classes full of protest and style and humanity.  Back to when my boyfriend was romantic and charming and the sex was fantastic and the food was cheap, and we would walk around town in the heat and sweat.  Back to being happily safe in that little college bubble of books and lingerie. 

We landed in San Diego and it felt different to me the moment we stepped onto the street--like we were in Hawaii or Anaheim.  I suddenly very much wanted to go out for some coconut shrimp and a romantic setting, and changed my mind about us not going out to dinner.  Maybe we can rebuild this.  Maybe we can be something better

He's picking me up at my place 8 for our date.  :) Now, where the hell is my eyeliner?...

*This all happened day 172-175.

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