Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year. I love that the weather is starting to get cooler. It gets dark a little earlier which gives me warm loving feelings of family and a deep sense Gratitude. It’s a time for me to reflect on how far I’ve come in my life and my Recovery. I thought it would be nice to bring you into my world for moment and let you know a little bit about me, what I’m doing and how I feel about the holidays. It only takes one word for me to describe how I feel….Grateful.
This year was a significant milestone in my Recovery. I got clean on September 20, 1983 at the age of 33 and this year I picked up my 33 year medallion. Wow, it’s hard to believe that I’ve been in Recovery half my life.
I walked from Addiction into Recovery with not much left to my name. Desperate to stay clean, sleeping on my sponsors couch, single, no children with only a bread and butter job. Today through the process of Recovery, I’m the Co-Founder of Nightcapjournal, married to my beautiful wife PhillyT for 29 years this upcoming March and have two wonderful children.
Our daughter Taylor who is 25 and our son Jake who is 23. They both have reaped the benefits of growing up in a family immersed in Recovery and have never seen Philly or I ever pick up a drink or a drug in their entire lives.
As I said Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. We usually have our traditional Thanksgiving feast at our house for both sides of our family and some close friends, about 25 to 35 people depending on everyones schedules.
We go all out, cook everything ourselves from scratch and pass our Gratitude Stick around the table so everyone can express what they are Grateful for out loud. It’s a very powerful and emotional experience and sets the tone for the evening.
This year we are taking Thanksgiving on the road to our daughter Taylor in Huntsville, Alabama. She has invited 20 of her friends and colleagues who are also living there without their families to celebrate the holiday and to join us for dinner.
I’ve already cooked and frozen four of our side dishes. Two of PhillyT’s prized family recipe Italian Sausage Stuffing, a Southwestern Corn Bread Stuffing, Orange Pecan Praline Sweet Potatoes and two of my infamous Mac ‘N Cheese (Gruyere, Extra Sharp Cheddar and Pecorino Romano).
I’m carrying them on the plane with me so I don’t have to take the time to cook them there. They will accompany a 26 lb. Turkey, Honey Baked Ham, Corn Soufflé, Orange Cinnamon Cranberry Sauce and Asparagus, which we will make there. If you didn’t already know, I’m a self-proclaimed Foodie and at home chef.
I don’t want to bore you anymore. I can go on and on. What I’m trying to say is Thank You Nightcapjournal NATION. I am truly Grateful for all of you and the support, love and service you have shown myself, Mr. Clean AKA Kenny P and our Nightcapjournal Community and Family. I want to wish each and every one of you and your families a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.
I Love you!
RT
