> Now I'm older and I'm more self-assured

>

> I'm just a little nostalgic for something a little more pure

>

> “Yes (or No)”, Bug Hunter

- Popper -

(January)

I remember that Thanksgiving Thursday very well, even though it was more than a year ago. It was the last one I spent with my father, although I didn’t know it at the time. Just like Aiden and Ed, I suppose.

Uncle Ray was supposed to join us for dinner and had even asked about bringing a date, but he had to cancel for work, which was too bad. But my dad made a turkey and I made potatoes and we fixed us a big feast and had far more leftovers than we knew what to do with. It was a good, happy day, and I’m grateful for the memory.

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Now that I think of it, that Thanksgiving was the last one-on-one time my dad and I ever had. He started dating a girl named Linda a few weeks later and between her and my school, we never really did anything else together. You’ll meet Linda in a little bit, by the way, and I hope you like her.

A year later, when Thanksgiving rolled around again, I was able to spend it with Aiden. We’d only been dating for about a month, but it was good to not be alone. He knew that I hoped he would cook the turkey and we were both surprised when it turned out well. It helped, of course, that he was able to carefully monitor the exact internal temperature of the cooking bird.

The nicest moment though, was before we started eating, Aiden offered a toast to those who were no longer with us, specifically Ed for him and my dad for me. And then as we ate, we shared stories and laughs and tears about things we did with those we lost and it was exactly what I needed. And what he needed, too, I suspect.