Oh Thanksgiving, how we love thee!

Today is my first Thanksgiving as a Brooklynite. Although, I wanted to stay home and celebrate another day off with my pets, I succumbed to family pressure and spent the day with my family instead. This morning I was flipping through cable channels and came across the HGTV- International House Hunt. The first episode covered a couple living in Paris and the second was a couple looking for a condo in Berlin. Oh, how I was riveted to the television. I realized then that moving to Brooklyn was my first step to moving back to Europe. Of course, one may not follow the logic here. I am an Indian, born there, but raised here. When and how did I get to Europe? Well, I went via the Army. Let me just say that I did not completely conform to either culture and joined the Army to discover myself. And on my journey of self-discovery, I lost myself again. It has taken me so many years to find myself, again. So, here I am pondering my journey ahead and arriving at the conclusion that if someone had asked me to move to Europe tomorrow, I would not hesitate. If I may, I do want to qualify my last statement and include the usual disclaimer that as I am not independently wealthy yet, my move would be conditional. If I found an employer etc. etc.... Nonetheless, I fervently hope and pray to posses the means to travel at my leisure in the future. This will satisfy my wander lust. As much as I love NY, I need to go somewhere else. Brooklyn was the first step toward my somewhere else ; Medical School and the military will give me the rest.

I do not expect anyone to be reading this anytime soon, so I will share my innermost thoughts about my unhappiness with certain aspects of my life. I am not very good at keeping a journal, but as I travel in, around, and through Brooklyn, I see so much and I want to voice my thoughts. Brooklyn is eclectic and strange. I consider this to be a valuable quality. One is free to just be in Brooklyn. There are no restrictions. No one to spy on you or to cast aspersions because you refuse to conform to known societal norms. I have created my own wonderful space here. Also, as large as it is, Brooklyn is also very small. I just found yesterday, through Facebook, that a wonderful Tea house is within walking distance. As an Indian, I would never have considered going to a tea house. But as a woman of the world, I will enjoy myself greatly. I will make my happiness here.

As I look back on past Thanksgiving days, I realize that I simply do not remember. Perhaps, it is true that some of us lack the ability to be "holiday people." Is it because I am one of those people who consider most holidays as just another day? I will answer with a resounding yes! I am thankful for the many blessings that have come my way. I just need to breathe and feel easy. I am sure that I am not the only Indian in Brooklyn, but as I look around, I feel like the only Indian in Brooklyn. But, surely, I am not the only Brooklynite who is glad that Thanksgiving day is over.