Happy American Thanksgiving!

One of the best things about being a Filipino-Canadian

Catholic/American Jewish couple is that there’s little or no overlap

between our holidays. Each set of parents gets to see us for their

respective holidays, and Wendy and I each get some bonus celebrations,

such as an extra Thanksgiving. Wendy got her bonus Thanksgiving last

month, and this month, I get mine.

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We arrived at Logan yesterday, where Wendy’s parents came to pick us up. We had dinner over at Uncle Pete’s Hickory Ribs, a great barbecue house in Revere.

We started with some shared chips with mango salsa, after which I had a

nice big platter with Texas beef ribs, pulled pork, Asian slaw (cole

slaw with a thai-style peanut dressing) and baked beans, washed down

with an ice-cold Sam Adams. If you’re ever in the area and feeling

carnivorous, make sure you visit Uncle Pete’s.

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I’ve just finished making the Baby Atkins cry over at Wendy’s parents’

place. We had homemade coffee cake for breakfast and pan-friend shrimp

with artichoke dip and pita chips prepared by Wendy’s brother and his

girlfriend for a snack. Later that afternoon, we had an excellent

turkey dinner, complete with cranberry jelly, mashed potatoes, squash

and pumpkin and applesauce breads. We also had a large selection of

desserts. There was pecan pie, caramel squares, Wendy’s butterscotch

chip oatmeal cookies, and one Wendy’s mom made just for me (since I

love chocolate): toll house cookie pie. I have the best mother-in-law ever!

Dinner was followed by general immobility and a couple of games of

Scrabble. Wendy and her family, being an erudite and well-read bunch,

are worthy comptetitors.

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It’s been exactly two months since our wedding, so I am most thankful

for Wendy. Gentlemen, if you find a woman who will tolerate a mild

videogaming addiction and even buy you a PlayStation for Christmas and

the Warriors game for your birthday, and even watch you loot and shoot your way through Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, propose marriage immediately.

I am also thankful for Wendy’s family, who welcomed me with open

arms

from the moment I met them. They are wonderful people whom I am pleased

and proud to have them as part of my (increasingly international)

family. I am reminded of

the dedication in Cory Doctorow’s latest book, Someone Comes to Town,

Someone Leaves Town:

For the family I was born into and the family I chose. I got lucky both times.

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To my American friends, family and readers: have a happy Thanksgiving!