It’s 11:30 in the morning on Thanksgiving day, and I am taking a twenty minute break from my novel and my Ernest Hemingway tea to write this post.
For me and my fellow Americans, Thanksgiving is a big deal. Most houses are empty while others have twenty to thirty people at a time, mothers and aunts start cooking early in the morning, and everyone suddenly gains an obsession with turkey. People are suddenly thankful for family and friends on a national scale. In a world where gratitude is either ignored or expected, it’s a rare thing.
So today, I’ll be taking a break from the novel that I’ve been giving birth to for the last 26 days to have a huge dinner with my family and my neighbors.
I think that we as a culture have forgotten how to say ‘I love you’. They’re three very simple words that are either used too much or not enough. When I tell someone I love them, the first assumption is that I meant it romantically, which is where things get weird. I then have to explain to my best friend that I meant it in the most platonic and loving way possible, because who ever said that the person you have romantic feelings for is the only person that you get to love?
When did the world become so obsessed with who we have romantic feelings for? Who we have romantic feelings for and whether or not they have romantic feelings for us too, these are important questions, obviously. But there are so many much more important questions. Who would you die for? Who would you do absolutely anything for, just to see them smile? Who do you dread saying goodbye to?
I’ve spent the early hours of my Thanksgiving day drinking tea with my family and writing love letters to my best friends. No, not anybody that I have romantic feelings toward – simply the people in my life that I appreciate more than I can say.
I think that’s all for today. As far as writing goes, I broke 40,000 words yesterday, and with five days left in NaNoWriMo, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve got this novel down. I have a write-in tomorrow, and I’ll probably be done with it by Saturday if I continue at my current pace. I can’t thank you enough for all the prayers, love, and support that have come from my followers and friends during this crazy month. I’ll make a proper gratitude post when I actually break 50,000.
With all the love and sloppy sentiments,
Ellen xx
dear west coast 