Grateful AF [Blog]

Happy Turkey Day! It’s a strange day, let’s all be honest with ourselves. We really like the tradition, but we’re progressive enough to appreciate how terrible we were to America’s indigenous peoples in the past. I like to think of it as a day when you really concentrate upon things that you’re grateful for. Terrible beginning to a tradition? Yes. Does that mean we should feel guilty about making a terrible part of our history a day where we realize how grateful we are for things and over-indulge? Probably. Oh, well. I’m grateful for stuff and you ain’t gonna stop me.

I am grateful that Thanksgiving landed on a Thursday. I mean, it always does, but I’m glad I get to write a blog today. I know it’s late, but I’m still not letting my adoring public down. Also, I’m a bunch of beers and a few red solo cups full of sangria down right now, so bear with me… bare with me? Googled it. It’s bear. Like, unleash your most ferocious self, with me. Be a bear and bare witness. Nope, Google again, it’s bear witness. English is weird. Alright. I digress. I’m the king of digression right now. Let me find a point.

I am grateful that I got to come to Arizona before we went out west. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again a hundred times, I’m really lucky that I have such an amazing second family. I love you dearly and to death first family. I always will and I’ll never undermine how much you mean to me by how much my Mesa people do, but I love them a whole lot. I feel like there’s a whole lot of stand-up comedians out there talking about dreading their in-laws and it sort of sets you up to be scared of whoever you’re going to marry’s family.

But, I love my Arizona family.

Amy is always so welcoming and accommodating. Thanks for letting us stay with you again, and again, and again.

I feel like I should say thank you to so many people. You see how much I love Stephanie and you just know that I’m part of the puzzle. I’m part of the crew, part of the inside jokes, a little bit of the intricate tapestry of everyone’s life. I know, I’m her husband and it’s to be expected, but… Idunno. I feel like it’s deep. Like, when I see these folks it’s like we never left. It’s like I never left. Like I’ve been part of the family for a whole lot longer than the six+ years Stephanie and I have been together.

I spent the last half an hour or so writing down everyone’s name and how much I appreciate them for specific reasons. I feel like it had good intentions behind it, but it doesn’t hold a candle to how much I appreciate and love all of these people. Grandma, Grandpa, Amy, Daniel, Maddie, Lex, Jawa, Cady, Melissa, Emma, Savanna, Kallena, Katy, Matt, Travie, Brody and Sage, Bink, Brian, Evelyn, Vicki, Steve, Ginny, Dan, cousin Gabe, that whole side of the family, everyone else. All these people were strangers to me but have been a part of Stephanie’s entire life for the most part. You all treat me like part of the family and I am thankful for all of you.

Since we got here a week ago we’ve been to an 80’s prom birthday for Bink, a game night with Katy and Travie and their boys, a dance recital for the girls, a Turkey Trot for Jawa. We’ve had breakfast and brunch and lunch and dinner and coffee and chats and naps with as many people as we can. Still, it doesn’t feel like enough, but I think that’s just how it feels when you’re trying to spend as much time as you can with your family in a short period of time.

Tonight I got to have Thanksgiving with my second family, and it was really great. We cooked all day, ate and drank until, shoot it’s going to be one in the morning soon. I got to hear all the stories from all the perspectives about my wife and her life. I love hearing these stories by the way. Stephanie is super embarrassed by a lot of them, but that’s how family should be. Lord knows my family loves to tell Stephanie all the most embarrassing things I’ve ever done. Family is family.

I just wanted to say how grateful I am that I am one with the Ibarras and the Ibarras are one with me. I always love being back here and I always look forward to coming back. Even if it was ninety degrees today and it don’t feel right because it should be snowing and time to start listening to Christmas music. I love it. I love these people. To the Arizonans who read my blog, I really do love you guys. You are my family and I’m the luckiest dude in the world that you all let me hang out because I married Stephanie.

I said I’m glad that I married into a good bunch of people and I’m glad the stereotypes of dreading your in-laws didn’t come to pass. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I’m glad I didn’t disappoint either. Assuming you guys aren’t just humoring me and secretly embarrassed by your nerdy white brother-in-law, I’m glad I get to be the cool uncle/friend/in-law/whatever I am to you.

Alright, I’m getting too sappy. I think I oughta cheese out before I get some tears on my keyboard or something.

Again, don’t get me wrong to my blood family. I love and appreciate and respect you and all that crap, but you know that already. Friends back in Colorado, I know you get scared when I move, but I love the shit out of you and you know it, so don’t go on that, “You’re going to forget all about us,” nonsense. You guys will get a whole blog too one day so don’t cry about it, jeez. I’m super stoked that we’re going to be in Washington in a week. Steph and I had a video chat with Katie and Matt earlier and it was a good fore-site into what to expect for the next half-a-year and that’s exciting.

Congratulations to my nephew Trevor and his lady McKenzie too! Little baby Annelise is beautiful and you guys are amazing. I’m a grunkle!

Alright. It’s late. I’ve had maybe a bit too much wine. I think I’m going to wait and post this tomorrow when I have a chance to make sure I wrote it like a Human writer and not a dude you met at the bar who is sharing too much.

Happy Thanksgiving lovies.