As an organization dedicated to supporting children and families in crisis, we recognize that holidays can be a delicate and nuanced time for many. In this series, Purposeful Perspectives, we asked our staff members to select a season, month, or day that is meaningful to them to share with our CASA community. Thank you for joining us as we take a deeper look behind the celebrations that fill our lives.

November brings in the sights and sounds of the upcoming holiday season, travel plans, menus, and activities – all of which I love. It reminds me of growing up in New England, where the change of season signaled preparation for the holidays. When I first moved to Georgia, I was sure that I would be okay staying in a new city for Thanksgiving; after all, time and budget didn’t allow for two trips back to Connecticut in such a short span. That young, single independent mindset only lasted so long until I realized that I didn’t know what I would do or where I would go for the holiday.  

As often happens, the holidays were when I missed my family and my childhood home the most. Thanks to the generosity and compassion of my colleagues and friends, my first few Thanksgiving holidays were spent with their families. These gatherings introduced me to different foods, family traditions, and the beginnings of deep connections with friends in Atlanta that endure to this day. I was always eager to share with my family about each celebration – what felt familiar, what was new, like rice instead of mashed potatoes, dressing instead of stuffing, fried turkey, dinnerware (fine China and paper plates), attire (including pajamas), mild enough weather to sit outside, movie marathons, and family games. But at its heart, Thanksgiving was about being together, giving thanks for those at the table, and remembering those who couldn’t be there.   

Over the years, I’ve spent Thanksgiving with friends who just ran a half-marathon, with friends’ families in Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama, and later with my own family to Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and, yes, even back in Connecticut a time or two. Only once I hosted my extended family for Thanksgiving dinner, but after the oven caught on fire before the turkey was finished, I was officially relieved of future host duties!  

Now, we travel near and far, bringing along our favorite dishes (some by special request) and spending time in nature. What I always love is that on Thanksgiving morning, I know that my mom is watching the Thanksgiving parade too. Sharing messages and photos with the friends and families who have hosted and supported me over the years adds another layer of warmth to the day. In these last two months of the year, it wouldn’t feel right for the holiday season to pass without making time to visit and reminisce with friends who, over the three decades, have truly become my family here in Georgia—a home away from home.