In a world of change, it's nice to know that I can rely upon my family to provide me with some semblance of stability. On any given Thanksgiving (including today), I can expect the following to happen:

1) Either marshmellow fruit salad will be served (sometimes it's green jello mixed with cool whip and cottage cheese).
2) The wine will flow like the Nile river (which does flow...right?)
3) I will be asked some version of the question, "Why are you not married?" Sometimes it will be "What happened to so n' so?" or "Do you still like your apartment?" Other times, it will simply be, "Why are you not married?"
4) My mom and aunts will migrate to another room and tell stories about their childhoods in Arvin, California that will erupt in explosive laughter.
5) My uncle will tell them to quiet it down and then make a comment about how my mom and two aunts can generate the cacophany and volume of fifty people, while he cranks up the sound of the football game.
6) After finishing his black coffee said uncle will suddenly announce, "We're going!" at which point my aunt will protest (along with everyone else) in a futile attempt to change his mind.

Just for today, I am grateful to spend Thanksgiving with my family.