Family. Health. Necessities.

We were all thankful for so much as we shared our turkey feast this year. We are spending the Thanksgiving weekend in Albuquerque New Mexico this year with my sisters and mother. Having to make a 13 hour drive made me thankful for low carb snacks and caffeine too.

The thing that stands out as I contemplate the meal last night was the laughter I heard and participated in. I laughed a lot. We brought up old memories of family events and funny stories. Joked about each others habits and quirks, and just laughed at my kids and my nieces being silly. It was a lot of fun and so comforting.

One of the few qualities I have is the ability to make people laugh. I love to poke fun at myself, the world, and pretty much everything! I am also good about not being mean but just funny. All and all it was a very good time.

After we finished eating we turned on our Nintendo Wii that we brought with us and started playing tennis and bowling. We had even more laughs taking pictures of each other as we were swinging around our controllers like tennis rackets. My favorite moment and biggest laughs from the video game portion of the night was my little sister royally kicking my butt at Wii Boxing. It was hysterical. She beat me down and made me look like a punching bag. Everyone thought that was funny too.

We all decided to hit the local Casino for an evening of Roulette and Blackjack so we grabbed our jackets and headed out the door. I grabbed my BG meter and tested. 61. All that boxing did a number on my blood sugar. I grabbed a snack and we hit the road.

It was really cold out but it did not stop us. I gambled and lost. And then I gambled some more and lost more. Luckily my better half won "most" of our gambling money back right before we left so we are good for tomorrow night if we decide to go again.

As we are leaving I notice something strange happening outside. "I don't remember a weird looking water feature when we came in?" I silently think to myself. I look around some more and realize that this not a water feature but snow. It is snowing! My wife and I both start laughing.

You see, we are from Southern California and snow fall is something that happens on TV and up in the mountains. We visit snow after it falls but we are never in actual snow fall. Ever. Now a new realization hits me. I have never driven in the snow so now my laughter has changed into a nervous laughter.

"Let's go stand out in it!" My wife shouts with excitement!

"NO! We have to get back to the house. I am totally freaking out. I have no clue how to drive in this stuff!" I say in the most stern voice I can muster as I laugh in between each word.

At this point my wife runs out into the snow with her head back and sticks her tongue out like for a communion wafer or something.

"You look like a PEZ dispenser. Come on! We gotta hit the road. I am freaking out here!" I laugh out.

She laughs. I laugh. We leave and make it back without any problems at all.

I am thankful for so many things but the ability to find, hear, and to participate in laughter is wonderful. It can take away the power of fear and nervousness. It can heal in a way.

But most of all it just feels good.

I hope yours was a happy and laughter filled Thanksgiving dinner.