My douchey, ultra-conservative little brother wasn't at Thanksgiving dinner.

(He and his wife were hosting a friend from Aruba who wanted to see an American Thanksgiving, but since one of the cousins was worried about going into labor before the scheduled date, this year's Thanksgiving was family-only, which also meant no Chris. My dad said that part explicitly.)

Thanksgiving was Thursday the 27th and my birthday was Tuesday the 25th, and Travis not being at Thanksgiving dinner just made the whole event peaceful and fun and entirely apolitical. I'd thank him for the wonderful birthday present but (a)he didn't not show up for my benefit and (b)he'd probably be offended as all get-out, and contrary to the opinions of some, I'm not a deliberate shit-stirrer.

But since he doesn't read my blog (I doubt he even knows my screen name) I'll say it here: Thanks, Travis, for being elsewhere when I was at the paternal Thanksgiving dinner. I hope you're at the paternal Christmas while I'm with my mom and stepdad on the other side of the state.