Thanksgiving at Anglers Inn El Salto Mexico

This Thanksgiving Pete and I were supposed to drive to Chicago to cook, eat, relax, eat and eat again on a long overdue visit to see family and friends.

We were scheduled to be in Mexico from November 14 to 21, but that wouldn’t give us time to quarantine or get a COVID test, so we made the decision to not make the drive. This will be my fifty-third (!) Thanksgiving and for each and every one I have been thankful to be surrounded by close family and friends.

It’s my favorite holiday. It reminds me of my mom and all of her sisters, my uncles and all my cousins.

It’s always a great reminder of my youngest cousin (who just turned 40), who was brought from the hospital directly to her first Thanksgiving dinner at my parents’ home.

(Happy Birthday Meredith)

It reminds me of the time I had 28 friends and family over to my house and I got a phone call from my brother asking if I had room for one more.

(Of course)

It reminds me to call my Aunt in Australia. In recent years that has changed to Facetiming, but either way the point is to wish her a happy birthday and to let her know we missed her presence on this grateful day.

(Happy Birthday Aunt Gladys)

I am devastated, as I am sure many others are, at the changes the pandemic has made to our lives. Others are certainly suffering more than I am, but it hurts me not to see my family for so long. At the same time I’m grateful that I will be celebrating with my second family, my Anglers Inn family.

That’s right: When one door closed, another one opened. Pete and I decided to stay through Thanksgiving and spend it the Anglers Inn way.

Each time we arrive and get on the van at the airport everyone is excited. We are all getting to know each other, telling stories of all the fish we caught on the last trip. And then for me…everything stops…as we drive through the gates……..my words are always the same: “I’m home.”.

Ever since our first visit in 2009, the staff at Anglers Inn has treated us like kings and queens. Most importantly, they make us feel like part of their family.

It’s always nice to have someone get you a drink or serve you food when you are on vacation, but to be honest I just feel strange when Sammy or Ramon are doting over me. I’d feel more at home (and like I was with my own family) if they’d say, “Get it yourself.” Then I would really know I am family, jajajaja.