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It’s the fourth Thursday of November, which means that many kids in the US will begin the day by watching the Macy’s Parade, complete this year with a giant Marshmellow Peeps float, a transvestite Mrs. Santa Claus, and high school bands who will not be playing the songs of an alleged sex offender/pop star. Later in the day, most families will gather around the table for a nice turkey dinner. However, the more adventurous families will be feasting on Turducken (full illustrated recipe can be found here).

Here in Moscow, it’s just another Thursday. I won’t be eating turkey; I’ll just be reading about the etymology of the word in different languages over at Linguist List and enjoying shwarma at an Arab cafe. Nevertheless, I won’t finish the day without spending some time thinking about the things for which I am most thankful, the part of the holiday which my family has always held as more important than the football games and the insane amounts of food.

More than anything I am thankful for my family.

I have the best family in the world. I can’t always relate to the horror stories that friends tell me concerning the tension among their family members. Sure, we have our little squabbles from time to time, but overall we get along very well. They’ve always supported me and my crazy plans (like studying in Russia for a year, for example. . .). I probably don’t deserve them.

And today I miss them more than normal.