Thanksgiving Vacation

The fourth best thing about boarding school.

After: 1) summer 2) spring break 3) xmas break

Ten days in late November is sweet. Much needed. I'm already 8,000 degrees more relaxed.

The plan was to leave Friday night for Vermont. We would ski on Saturday, hang out at my folks' condo with my Uncle Steadman and Aunt Judi. Only the Boarding School wouldn't let me go.

I fed this resentment with a good dose of self-pity, but then sort of resigned myself to the situation and took Young Master Luke out on an adventure this morning in the Miles Standish State Forest. On the way, I get a call from Steadman. He asks if we can meet up somewhere, so I invite him to drive 3 hours out of his way and come stay with us for the night. To my surprise, he agrees.

Turns out my resentment is all for naught. I can't whine about not being able to see my relatives from California because circumstance has allowed for this chance encounter. One might call the shift the result of the Higher Power acting on our behalf.

I say "our" because Steadman is one of us. His visit turns into something of a meeting--you know, the casual kind of meeting when two alcoholics get together and talk a bit of program.

Sometimes things do work out for the best. Have to believe that such cosmic alignments can occur only when the mind is calm. If I had remained stuck in the negative energy, I don't believe the serendipity would shine on through.

An auspicious beginning to this little vacation.