Hi Family, it's Family. It's that time of year again. The holiday some of us love and some of us find challenging.

Whatever your family dynamic, the holidays are sure to supercharge whatever's there, amplifying

joy, grief, confusion, heartache, conflict, gratitude. Whether you're having Thanksgiving with extended family,

or a friend's giving with chosen family,

or skipping the whole thing and getting out of Dodge,

I want to share a few thoughts with you. First I'll tell you about my

Thanksgiving. This year I'm hosting 16 people and as I share these words I'm

waiting for a delivery of an extra table because I don't have room to fit all the

family who are on their way.

My in-laws, my husband's family, are coming.

I've known them for 27 years, have watched my nieces and nephew be born, grow up, become young adults.

Together we've mourned the loss of their grandparents, my husband's parents.

We've witnessed each other grow and change. There have

been divorces, new marriages, retirements, big life-altering decisions. There has

been illness and recovery. At the same time, I'm quite

alone. The family I grew up in, they're all gone. I'm an only child and have, many of you know a complicated family history.

So there's always an air of sadness for me around the holidays.

A sense of loneliness amidst all the chaos and delicious food, game-playing and laughter.

It's my lot in life to always be slightly on the outside of things.

And that's okay. I've come to understand. slightly on the outside of things.

And that's okay.

I've come to understand it as a gift.

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