Thanksgiving thoughts from The Mind of Friggen Benq

News of the day: Ohio State beats Michigan to claim Big Ten Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl. That's awesome because I am a huge Ohio State Buckeye fan and I absolutely hate that team up north. Congratulations to Jim Tressel and the entire Ohio State football program on a fine season and a chance to shine once again on the national stage in the Rose Bowl... but that's not what this blog is about. For many this game means the end of football season, but it has other meaning to me. It means that Thanksgiving is on my doorstep. In fact Thanksgiving is this coming Thursday and I honestly do not feel "thankful".

Honestly, what is there to be thankful for? Well, I guess I am alive. I was able to wake up this morning and enjoy another day on this Earth. Is that really something to be thankful for in this day and age with the horrible economy and the unemployment rate skyrocketing, crime rampant throughout many of our communities, children being abused, and the world teetering on the brink of destruction. Wow, that sounded like a depressing potpourri didn't it? Well I am sorry but I am trying to keep it real.

I am thankful I have a job that is stressing me out. I am thankful for the family I have. That same family I only see and spend any time with on holidays such as Thanksgiving. That's something to be thankful for... a family that certainly doesn't "act like a family". A family that I do not doubt loves each other very much but the foundation of THIS family passed on when my grandfather died. It has not been the same since.

The highlight of my week will most likely be going to my aunt's house on Thursday for a dinner and watching a little football before everyone departs on their separate ways to finish their day however they feel obligated. All of my cousins' on my fathers' side of the family will be there... with all of their children. My children will not be here. I will be attending alone. I will arrive alone. I will leave alone. I will arrive home alone.

You can be thankful for time together with "family" but I say SCREW YOU. My family is not spending the time with me. I have no wife, I have no place I can call MY HOME, I have no children to go with me and spend the day "together" while everyone else celebrates how thankful they are for that time together. So I say SCREW YOU and your "Thanksgiving".

I am thankful you are thankful. I am there because it's my "duty" to make an annual appearance and to give me something to do. I am there because I have no one else to spend the day with. I am there trying to fit in. I will leave sad. I allow myself to sit through that, watching you spend time with your kids in jealous envy. I struggle to fit in as I have and always will be the outcast of this family. Do I appreciate the feeling of receiving an invite because you feel guilty or sorry for me? Thus is the Mind of Friggen Ben on ANY holiday, not just Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. You may have things to be thankful for but remember not everyone shares your sentiment. Can we please get through this week so I can begin preparation for the disaster known as Christmas? And so the process repeats all over again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Cheers.