nineteen.

I've been thinking a lot about family lately.

I'll admit that I'm not usually one to miss my family while I'm at school. Part of that is just due to the complete lack of space and privacy our apartment offers, the distance from friends at home I've been experiencing and how easily people seem to get into arguments at home. It feels easier to not be at home and stay away. Having now not seen my family since August, I really do miss them. Its strange since everyone is at home but me. I feel like they've all been living as a family, while I am on my own. I know I will probably get bored when I am home for Christmas and be itching to get back to school and have a little space, but I'm excited to be home in just 18 more days.

This was the first Thanksgiving that I wasn't with any family members. It was strange, yet I've been surrounded by families. Its always interesting to me to watch how family members interact with each other. Me and Liz rode up to Michigan with Lauren and Michelle. They played us a tape from their childhood that they always listened to in the car. It was silly. Michelle couldn't stop laughing. Despite my sleepiness, I enjoyed listening to it. It reminded me of the long car rides to Indiana and Florida. We would play the Carmen Sandiego tape and a tape of silly songs (my favorite was "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.")

Being in Michigan with the Somerville family has been great too. It's so tender to see how they wait for everyone to get to the table to pray together, how they all say good night to each other before bed, and how much they know about each other's lives despite their distance. We watched The Office together, Dan In Real Life (a movie that is very much about family, I might add)did the dishes together, went grocery shopping, etc. Its refreshing to see a family so closely knit that I so easily felt welcome in. They even cooked one of my favorite meals for dinner one night. I know Liz isn't all too excited to leave tomorrow. I can better understand her feelings of homesickness now because she has a great family. I wish I had gotten to spend Thanksgiving in Brooklyn with my family, but spending it with the Somerville's was probably the next best thing. I really enjoyed being in Michigan and just hanging out with all of them.

And now, I prepare to go back to school, with 3 tests and 2 papers left in my 8 days of class, followed by 3 finals. And then I'm done! Its overwhelming to think about all of that right now, but I cannot wait to be back in Brooklyn with my family for Christmas!