As the years have gone on, this season has become more and more special to me. The aspects that surround Thanksgiving that I once viewed to be a burden as a child (having to hang out with family, cheesy photos, etc.) are now my favorite parts. Is my family full of a bunch of crazies that used to embarrass the crap out me? Absolutely. What’s different as I’ve grown up is that the same things that used to make me blush are now what I’m most thankful for. The pessimists out there will point to the commercialization of this time of year as a bad thing. While I’m not an advocate for it, the constant bombardment does help to keep me consciously aware of what I truly am thankful for. Along with my family and friends, a huge part of what I’m thankful for is our neighborhood.