Man, the last two months have been a crash course on the darkness of grief and the harsh, cold family dynamics that accompany the loss of a parent.

It’s been a rough ride for me.

But respite came last Thursday in the form of a traditional southeast Texas Thanksgiving.

I was so depressed on Thursday morning — the first major holiday since my mom passed — as I drove to Orange, Texas where Tracie grew up.

But it was literally “on the bayou” where 20+ family members greeted me with open arms, love, and shoulders to cry on.

Thanksgiving with Tracie’s family is always a blessing. And the food is extraordinary, for real.

But this year’s holiday reminded me that in spite of grief, in spite of the terrible ways that people can treat each other… I do have a family that loves me, respects me, and wants my children to thrive.

We drank a bottle of 2013 Smith Madrone that I’d been saving and it sang in the glass. Heartfelt thanks to my friends Julie Ann and Stu, owners of the winery, for sharing it with us. It meant even more that it came from Julie Ann: she and I grew up in the same La Jolla neighborhood.

Treat your family well. It’s the only one you’ve got. It was the old folks’ only wish that we all stick together. Southeast Texas reminded me of that this year and I am so grateful for that.