by Kiersten Reavis

Growing up in a household where Thanksgiving was thought of a time to gather around my Grandpa’s table and stuff myself full of food that I was grateful for limited my knowledge on the true meaning of “Thanksgiving Dinner.”  When my grandfather passed and I talked to my peers about what they do on Thanksgiving, that knowledge was widely expanded.
About a year ago my grandfather passed away forcing us to stop having Thanksgiving at his house every year. One thing my family found hard to do was decide on what we were going to do. In the end we went out to eat, and my mind was blown! I expected to walk inside and the place be empty because why would people be at a restaurant on such a holiday, but it was the complete opposite! The restaurant even had a separate Thanksgiving menu. Looking around I was amazed at how many people actually went out to dinner instead of having dinner at a family or friend’s home.
When I went around asking my friends what they did forTthanksgiving my mind just kept getting even more blown! Some of them said they went to a family member’s house which I expected; I thought that was the normal thing to do. I  then heard that there were the ones who didn’t. There were friends who carried their Thanksgiving day out as if it were any other day. I could not believe it. I always thought Thanksgiving was a time to spend with your family and eat until you couldn’t eat anymore but I now realize that all families are different and not all families celebrate Thanksgiving.