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Thankfulness Is Key
Sarah Says 11-23-22
Sarah Lawson

Thanksgiving time is here and it is the month of being thankful and surrounding yourself with family while eating until you pass out.

There is a lot I am thankful for, but the one thing I am most thankful for is where I am today. I used to stress myself out when I was in high school not knowing where I would be in the future. I can proudly say that I am so happy where I am in life with my jobs. But more recently I am thankful for those around me that are always there for me when I need them most. Thank you to all of you for everything that you have done for me.

This year I am spending my Thanksgiving at my dad and grandma’s house and I get the exciting special task of making the turkey. I am beyond excited since I have always wanted to be the one to make the turkey and play around with the flavors.

I love to cook and creating my own flavors with herbs and seasonings is what makes me like cooking the most. My best friend Caitlyn and I have talked for years now about wanting to be in charge of the turkey for our families and we would talk about how we would cook it and season it.

I brought it up to my dad this year and I got the green light to start planning my flavors. I found some inspiration on TikTok and saved their videos to base my recipe on. Then I bought an injecting syringe so I can inject the flavors into the meat. I have a whole recipe planned out but of course I am nervous to see how it will turn out.

My older brothers, my sister-in-law and my two nieces will be there as well and I am so excited to see them. I love my nieces to death and I always cherish the time I get with them since they live hours away. So, this Thanksgiving is going to be a good one and I can’t believe that it is already here.

I am thankful for my siblings, being the younger sister is not always rainbows and butterflies but it has its perks. They always protect me no matter what happens, and even though they roughhouse too much with me I know they love me. I also know that if I am with my oldest brother Patrick, he is my go-to karaoke buddy. He is always down to sing musical theatre songs with me and somehow when we are in the car together, we always end up doing a few duets. My other older brother Sean is the best to have deep conversations with and he always makes me feel heard. Whenever I am with him, we always tend to talk about life and how we are handling it. Sean also never fails at making me laugh; he is the funniest and most caring even though he looks scary just because he is super tall.

I am thankful for my parents, for always helping me when they can and doing everything in their power to help me succeed.

I am thankful for my best friend Caitlyn for our 21-year-long bond.

I am thankful for my other best friend Kai for being my world and blocking out the darkness when I can’t find the light. I met her in college during my first semester and I will forever be thankful that I have her in my life.

Lastly, I am thankful for my two guy best friends Seth and Elias. I also met Seth in college; he lived across from me in the dorms and quickly became one of my best friends. Elias was his best friend and after I met him, he became mine too. I love those guys, always and forever.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and thinks about the things they are most thankful for.

 

Sarah Lawson is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Escalon Times and The Riverbank News; she can be reached at slawson@oakdaleleader.com.