Run, Lola, Run!!

Well we're back from Hawaii, its late October and I find out that traditionally Thanksgiving is done at one of the girls homes in Oakland..........okie dokie then.........Stress! I have not seen them since I met them in January, have talked on the phone a few times and on the internet........but all of a sudden I am like a duck outta water!!!

Now anyone who knows me, knows I'm not afraid of much........but these three beautiful girls scare the hell outta me!!! I was so outta my comfort zone that I could hardly sleep at night as the time drew closer.  In fact it was Thanksgiving week when I got hired at CHC and that was my saving grace because I was too busy trying to get settled there to know where the week went!!! And all of a sudden it was Wednesday night and we were loading the car to drive north the next morning!

Have you ever gone to bed at night and dreaded something happening the next day so bad that you wish for an earthquake?? Yeah I think that might have worked!! The drive north was hard......not only did we have holiday traffice on 101 all the way, my stomach was cramping from anxiety!!  I just wanted to throw up so bad!! All the while trying hard to smile and laugh with Dan and frankly couldn't even tell you what we talked about for five hours!!!

When we arrived at Beth's the smells were incredible!! Beth and Christy were donned in aprons and busy little beavers in the kitchen. Beths apartment was so quaint in a lovely part of town and I realized that I had never been to Oakland!! Scary stories I remember hearing about Oakland for years seemed hardly possible from what I saw......the neighborhoods are kind of in town......or town was part of the neighborhoods.......I don't know which, but seemed like two or three blocks of houses and then town........then you cross a main street and several more blocks of houses......very nice!

Soon the girls friends started to arrive and snacks were put out and the chatter made this apartment come alive!! The food was delicious and everything from Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy to vegetarian dishes I had never tasted but loved!! Everyone was so friendly that I felt so stupid for all the anxiousness I had put myself through! The girls were so warm and so friendly and you know how you can tell when someone just does something cause they're supposed to?? It wasn't like that at all !! Everyone was truly themselves I believe!! Rachael is a 911 operator so she didn't arrive till she got off of work later in the day and yes she was as sweet as I remembered!! It was a day to truly be "thankful" for!! I had Dan by my side, his daughters and their friends who so easily befriended me and I was a very happy and thankful person this year!! Truly a Thanksgiving I will not soon forget!!