Finding What Really Matters

The gentle rays of the sun barely crept over downtown as young children to elderly adults braced the cold to claim their spot along 6^th Avenue. They were taking part in an annual tradition of watching inflatable members of their favorite cartoons tower over the streets for almost 50 blocks – an area of New York normally congested with taxis and confused tourists. It was Thanksgiving morning in Manhattan. Where was I? Warm in my bed, completely idle to the chaos of the Macy’s Day Parade taking place ten blocks from where I slept.

Thanksgiving has been an odd holiday for me over the past few years, unlike the norm of the “traditional” Thanksgiving consisting of a 25-pound turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce still in the shape of the can, green bean casserole and the drunken uncle telling obscene jokes at the end of the table. Two years ago I was at a hotel in Wisconsin, last year I was in Rome and this year I was in New York. I’m from the suburbs of Chicago. I’m almost not accustom to the picturesque Thanksgiving anymore, but that’s ok because as long as I’m with my family, nothing else matters.

As I sat with my parents and brother at dinner that night at a restaurant, we became somewhat of friends with our waitress. Eva was her name, and she had a two and a half year old son at home – Lukas. She is also a single mom.

“I cried for thirty minutes this morning knowing I would not be able to spend tonight with him, but I’m better now,” she said to us with a smile the further we got into conversation. She was one of the brightest faces I saw in Manhattan during my entire trip, and she was spending Thanksgiving away from her family, surrounded by people enjoying the holiday with the people they loved – the holiday staple she was missing.

It always fascinates me the pure impact one person can have on your outlook on something, no matter how small or large. Earlier that day I was upset I couldn’t be spending my Thanksgiving at home, even though I was with my family. Eva was spending her Thanksgiving working, away from her son, and didn’t complain once. Everything Thanksgiving from now on, I will always think back to that dinner, wondering if Eva is able to spend it with her son.

I hugged my parents a little tighter that night before bed.

-Matthew Kwiecinski