Dear Turkeys,

I'm sorry. I thought I should say that first and foremost. However, know that even though I pity your circumstance, there is nothing I can do to change your fate. And let me confess to you upfront that I am not nor could I ever be a vegetarian. You must appreciate vegetarians though, because they save you a whole lot of heartache this time of year.

I hope you had fun — you know, in your last days. I hope you have enjoyed our unusually warm weather by running around, feeling the leaves crunch under your bird feet. Do you know how many kids honor you? How you have been the center of many crafts and drawings for at least three weeks and counting? You have become a staple and tradition in many households and let me tell you, that is something no one could have predicted. Because way back when, you were really hard to catch. You gave us a (literal) run for our money. Now, there is still a long process that has to be done. As a little girl, I remember going with my dad to the store and him explaining to me how the preparation process worked. He would talk as we circled the aisles and our one-hour ten item shopping list turned into a day long excursion. We left with not only groceries, but memories we would retell every holiday.

Most of all, I wanted to say thank you. No, I'm not trying to be cheesy and say the stereotypical thing that everyone feels obligated to say this month. The reason I say thank you is because I want you to know that you have made a difference. You have given my family a reason to eat together on Thursday. My uncle and aunt will travel 45 minutes and my great-aunt and second cousins will travel 30 minutes to see me. You will create more happiness than you can ever imagine — happiness that comes from full bellies laughing at inside jokes. There will be arguments too: they will probably be between my parents arguing whether you are brown enough. This Thanksgiving, we will celebrate more than just a holiday and more than just a dinner. We will celebrate making it another year as a family. We celebrate our tenacity and our ability to, despite our differences, come back together in unity and love. Because if this year has taught us anything, it would be that we cannot expect anything besides what is right in front of us. Your commitment is something no amount of stuffing could compare to.

So on Thursday, while enjoying my potatoes with gravy, pumpkin pie, and well ... you know, I will think of you and say thanks. Thank you for the sacrifice of your life. Thank you for bringing us together for such a marvelous occasion.

Sincerely,
Isabella Ruggiero