After our football team won the game against Mid-American Nazarene to advance to the 2nd round of the playoffs, it was time to hit the books for the 2nd test I had on Monday and Tuesday before break. I had no idea how challenging it would be to focus on studying on a Saturday but with the help of Pandora and God I finally got it all done.
The most satisfying feeling is when you realize you have all your homework done and have your entire Sunday night off. However my bliss soon ended when I discovered I had more Old Testament material to study while getting laundry done. On Monday, I heard repeatedly, “Just one more day!” That thought was about the only thing that kept me from going crazy…just one more day till I got to see my family and friends, till I got to sleep in, and eat like food was going out of style.
Tuesday finally arrived and I had that “Christmas morning” feeling. Ya know, where nothing could rain on your parade and you’re high and mighty on cloud 9? My first class (Basic Psychology) was fairly easy. We finished up the movie A Beautiful Mind. It’s kinda like Shutter Island and Inception in one but nowhere near as intense. After lunch, I packed up all my stuff (total of 3 armful loads) and got my things together for my math course. Everything was going great until my professor said, “Everyone have a great Thanksgiving. Oh, and here are 4 pages of homework.” You can imagine the thrill and excitement that my classmates and I expressed. As I topped my massive pile of belongings with my calculator, I pulled out of Gillespie parking lot and headed west. One of my favorite things to do on the drive home is cranking up my radio and rolling my sunroof open.
Another favorite of mine is the wonderful welcome I get from my parents when I loudly announce that I’m home and the welcome back meal that follows. I’m getting hungry just thinking about my mom’s cooking. Anyway, Thanksgiving at my house is always the same every year. We cook, we eat, we sleep, we eat again, and then hit the town to save our place in line for Black Friday. Now that’s when all the fun begins. There’s nothing like waiting in 20 degree weather with wind chills and a barbaric crowd to save a couple bucks during the holidays! I don’t know about you but when I can spend hours in malls that have nothing but deals, I call that heaven.
My grandmother woke me up at 8:30 Friday morning asking if I would like to go shopping with her. I couldn’t turn her down regardless, even if I only had 4 and a half hours of sleep. My grandmother is 74 and she can shop like a champ. I thought my day would never end until we returned home several hours later. That day was like a blur to me because it felt like it was Friday and Saturday all in one and I was unbelievably tired. Saturday we said our goodbyes and I immediately turned on the UC vs. St. Xavier game on the ‘Net. Unfortunately, our team returned home without a championship title but hard-fought battle to end a fantasic season.
Another tradition in my house is putting up the Christmas decorations the Saturday after Thanksgiving. My mom is a perfectionist when it comes to Christmas decor so it takes a while to get the perfect look for her. Next morning I went to my home church. Another thing I dearly miss – my church family. It was great to see all the familar faces again.
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope you did as well. Don’t forget to sign up for our Discovery Day coming up in Feburary and be sure to file your FASFA in Janurary. Have a great week!
-Kandace Gibson
