Come early Black Friday morning, I was in the dark, frozen woods with my camera, happy and content with our Thanksgiving holiday (see below for more on that). There were no Door Buster Specials, no adults fighting for crap toys, and no signs of capitalism’s evil grip on society. Just crunching leaves, crisp air, critters, and miles to lumber.

I had it in my mind that I was going back to my 6-mile loop today, but as the sun started to rise, I heard a few gunshots that sounded way closer than I wanted, so that plan was aborted, and I went back to my slightly shorter loop that came in at 5.37 miles.

Despite the cold weather and the nearby gunfire, I was able to get a few critter shots, including a doe, a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, and a female Downy Woodpecker.

I only have about 21 miles in my feetz this week, but I think that’s going to be enough. It’s been a busy week, and I’m looking forward to some active recovery in the form of footy watching and hoppy beverages to relax with.

We’re also about to get hit with our first winter storm of the season, with 5 to 9 inches of snow expected from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. Sadly, that means B-Man is heading back to Lansing late this afternoon or evening to avoid driving in it. That sucks, but it beats worrying about him driving in it. Of course, I think he wants to hang out with his girlfriend this weekend too, and who could blame him, she’s much prettier than me!

Now, a little recap of our Thanksgiving, that is written, if for no other reason than to remind myself that despite my loathing of the holidays and modern society, there is still REAL joy to be had.

Now THAT was a Thanksgiving!

Anyone who has been around me knows that I am not a fan of the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving, Holiday #1 in the Trifecta of Winter Holiday Evil.

In recent years, I have made semi-successful efforts to change and make them more tolerable for myself, but I in no way saw the goodness of this Thanksgiving coming.

First, some background: When B started school here in Michigan in 2010, he met C-Dawg (not his real name), and eventually two brothers that C and his family were friends with, whom I called the Waltons for years due to always forgetting their last name.

As B got older, with all parents’ permission, he would often walk home with them after school, to hang out for an hour or so, playing kickball, soccer, or other backyard shenanigans before walking home, and then eventually being picked up by me when we moved out of town in 2016.

Now, all of them are in their 20s, and either in college or just graduated and working. Yet, they are all still friends, and when all together are almost like brothers in the way they recall shared memories, laugh, and bust balls.

So, on Wednesday, when C told Brennan that he couldn’t make it to Florida to visit his mom and her husband, and his dad and his new wife here in Michigan needed to take care of some business with his elderly dad at a care facility out of state, we invited him to our Thanksgiving dinner. He accepted, and we were stoked to have him.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving morning, when Brennan told us that the Walton Brothers’ mom had gone down with a bad stomach virus and needed to cancel Thanksgiving at their house. Before he could even finish the story, we said, “Please tell them to come for dinner!”

With that, our Thanksgiving dinner went from 3 to 6, and I was happy to have bought an 8-pound turkey breast rather than my norm. A move that, in all honesty, was to provide me with days and days of turkey sandwiches!

Around 12:45, I started my prep for a 4:30 PM dinner, and I was LOCKED in! Turkey, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, egg noodles with butter, biscuits, etc. It was a Cat 5 Cooking masterclass; if masterclasses in culinary mediocrity existed.

Around 3 PM, the boys arrived, and the day only got better. They were happy to have a familiar place to go for dinner and for friends to hang out with, and Wifey and I were thrilled that we could share our holiday with them.

While I cooked, and Wifey prepped the table and desserts, the boys watched the Lions game and kept us entertained.

Finally, my turkey breast was done resting, moist as fuck, and delicious. The food was set out, and Wifey and I watched four 20-something boys tear through it all like hyenas in a daycare, and then go back for seconds and thirds. My dream of days filled with Thanksgiving leftovers was gone, and it never felt better.

C-Dawg, Walton Jr., Wifey, me (the one with short hair), Walton Sr., and B.

After dinner, the boys retreated back to the living room to eat their dessert and watch some MSU basketball while Wifey and I cleaned up.

Then, for the next couple of hours, with the boys and Lola The Dog in the living room area watching a football game, Wifey and I sat at the dinner table with endless smiles on our faces as we all watched a game that none of us really cared about, yet cheered, booed, and laughed at all the same.

After 15 years of literally watching the four boys grow up together, it was a real treat to see them still together, still great friends, and having fun. Not to mention, the boys were super appreciative, dishing out hugs as they left, and sending some texts of thanks to B to share with us later, my favorite being from C-Dawg, or as the boys call him, “Chin.” And as you can see, he calls me J Dog.

All in all, it was one of those times in life that things just came together, and it felt great, even for a notorious holiday Grinch like myself. For that, I am extremely grateful. Maybe for Christmas I’ll get a whole bird, JUST in case!

Oh, and for the record, I salvaged ONE Soiled Turkey Stuffing and Cheese Sandwich for lunch today. It tasted AMAZE.

Later.