Where Will You Be Next Thanksgiving?

Me, Will, Julia, Coler, Brandon and Jennifer.

I've only hosted one Thanksgiving Day, and it was in Mexico in 2002. I invited my fellow orphaned American friends and cooked a turkey for the first time (before I was a vegetarian.) Turkeys were hard to find and expensive, but it was worth it. I only made $30 a week waiting tables before tips, the the turkey was $15 if memory serves. Half a week's salary!

My friends planned ahead well and visited Internet cafes in order to get recipes from their parents via email. I remember Julia made stuffing, and Brandon (who hadn't learned Spanish yet) accidentally bought a thick, syrupy Vino para Consagrar - consecration wine - thinking he was being the classy guy showing up with a nice white and some crusty bread. We laughed and improvised what was probably a sacrilegious communion.

Coler was the only one brave enough to carve the turkey, and the truth is, I don't remember Coler. Thankfully I wrote his name and a few details on the back of this picture in 2002. If anyone knows this guy, tell him to look me up.

When we sat down to eat, instead of asking everyone what they were thankful for, I asked everyone to say where they thought they'd be in a year - Thanksgiving 2003. I don't think any of us knew! We all had so many options and were open to whatever life threw at us.

Of course, this year is different for me. I like where I live, I like my job, I have lots of friends and family is nearby. So I know exactly where I hope to be next Thanksgiving - right here, plus one.

What about you? How would you like Thanksgiving 2012 to look?