Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving turned out to be a wonderful, but different, celebration this year. Gabe, true to tradition, made his holiday bellini. We put smoked salmon, salmon eggs, chives, and a dollop of crème fraîche on each one. Our next course began with a baguette tasting, courtesy of Luke, who pedaled his way to three different boulangeries on his route home from school. The winning baguette became the star accompaniment to two different terrines— one a duck mousse, the other a salmon mousse. The main course featured duck confit, zucchini au gratin, and whipped sweet potatoes. After the cheese course, we reached the end with petite pastries from Silvie Sarda's patisserie: a blueberry tart with meringue, an apricot tart, and a pâte à choux filled with chocolate. Each bite was delicious and the perfect conclusion to our Thanksgiving feast. We also squeezed in a video call with Nona and then the Winston family. It was fun catching up and sharing the holiday vibes.

Around the table, we expressed our gratitude. Charlie, with his usual charm, voiced appreciation for the meal and the culinary magic by Gabe every day. Ezra expressed gratitude for spending the next month with us. Luke thanked us for this year in France. Gabe shared his appreciation for my willingness to embark on this wild journey. He thanked the boys for embracing the adventure with the same gusto he had envisioned. As for me, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the individuals gathered around the table, Gabe for his plan to uproot our lives and transplant us in France, and the boys for displaying a growth mindset in school.

But, amidst all the good vibes and laughter, there's this conflicting vibe hanging around. We're all feeling grateful, but there's this heavy awareness too. Our celebration clashes with the chaos in the world. It's like, on the one hand, we're sitting here feeling lucky, and on the other hand, I can't shake off the fact that not everyone's having it easy. It's always this paradox — appreciating our good situation while being fully aware of the struggles people are facing elsewhere. Feeling the mix of savoring the moment and understanding the broader scope is motivating me to step up. I want to explore the outreach scene here in Biarritz, hoping to find something that the boys and I can dive into together. It's not just about doing, but also about instilling that spirit in the boys, turning awareness into action, and making a positive impact as a family. Stay tuned.