What I’m Thankful For (Exclusive November 2024)

(All characters are consenting adults and are merely roleplaying!!!! )

I had been cooking and backing nearly nonstop for the last few days, all in preparation for hosting Thanksgiving for my family. I had a big family and I had been away for a couple of years and hadn’t gotten to see them.

So when I moved back here, thanksgiving was right around the corner, so I offered to host it. I told them to send me what they liked and I’ll either cook it or buy it from the store, and of course, I told them they were free to bring whatever they pleased.

My family was more than happy to have me make their favorite things, and I ended up having to make a lot of things, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle, as in my time away my cooking skills were one of the things that changed a lot.

Of course, they were the things that changed the most. That was me. Most of them aren't going to recognize me when they arrive, and thoughts that do are going to be in for quite a surprise. To be fair once I tell them, they’ll all be surprised.

To their credit the last time they saw me in person I was a guy. One with a cheesy beard, short messy hair, and who dressed like a slob. Now when I look in the mirror, I can’t even believe I used to be him.

Nowadays, I’m a super cute girl, with long wavy hair, no facial hair, actually no hair anywhere other than my head, and I dress in clean stylish clothes, well at least I like to think it’s stylish, my sister tends to say otherwise.

What’s wrong with a comfortable and warm red sweater dress with black leggings? Well, my boyfriend thinks it's super cute. Oh speaking of, I did tell my family that I was dating someone and that I had a girl I wanted to introduce them to.

Now that I think of that, it’s going to cause even more confusion, oh well, by the end of the night it’ll all be settled. I have to admit coming out to all of them is making me completely anxious. I haven’t known any of them to be homophobic or transphobic, but who knows?

Some of them may leave, they may all leave, but I’m prepared for that. I know my sister and my boyfriend will stay no matter what. Those two have been there for me from the start, supporting me and guiding me during my transition.

My sister was the first and really only person in my family I told, and when she found out she flew to the state I was staying in and insisted on teaching me everything I’d need to know. She would then come to visit every so often so we could do things together as sisters.

My boyfriend, who I met in college, was just as supportive. Back then we were just a couple of gay guys, but I was still a bit confused about myself back then, but when I figured it out, I thought it would stain our relationship, even though he’s pansexual.

I just thought it was going to be too much of a change for him to handle, but I was wrong. Like tonight I came out to him in a bit of an extreme way. My sister helped me pick out cute clothes, and she then did my makeup and hair.

I then waited for him to get home so I could show him who I really was. When he got home, I was the one surprised, not him. He came in, said hi, kissed me, and went to the kitchen to grab something to drink.

I had no idea what was going on, well as it turns out he just didn’t notice, and when I brought it to his attention he almost didn’t seem like he cared. I’ll admit that only made me feel like he didn’t care about me, but again I was wrong, he’s just a bit different.

He still loved me, and he didn’t care if I was a man, a woman, or neither. He loved me because I was sweet, supportive, and cute. That wasn’t going to change because of hair, makeup, or different clothes. I was in tears but I managed to hug him, nearly taking the breath from his lungs.

Ever since then, I created my new life as a woman. I socially transitioned and started wearing things like dresses and skirts in public, and about a year later I got in touch with my doctor and got on a hormone replacement treatment.

Then three years after that I decided to go all the way and in the same year, I got both top and bottom surgery, and thus completed my own journey to womanhood, and honestly I couldn’t be happier.

Then not long after that, my boyfriend got a promotion that required him to move across the country to none other than the place where my family lives. So as a good girlfriend and as someone who wanted to support him as he supported me, we moved!

We bought a decent-sized house an hour away from where my parents live and we moved in, though we kept this a secret until we were all moved in. Once we were, my sister went ahead and told everyone, while also suggesting Thanksgiving be held at my house.

Well everyone loved that idea which is what led me to the last few days of cooking. I’d gotten into cooking during my transition, not because it’s woman's work, but because during the treatment, my taste buds changed and I always craved certain foods.

So I got good at making things, and I have to say, this Thanksgiving feast is some of my best work. Perhaps too good, my family might be too focused on the amazing food to notice me… Much like how my boyfriend reacted, which might not be so bad.

After an hour of setting up the tables with my boyfriend, my sister arrives and starts helping heat up food and setting the tables. Then, the time came, when my family started showing up, and they were pretty punctual.

So a few got here at the same time and started talking outside my house, and as they did more and more arrived. So when someone finally rang the doorbell, there was quite a crowd for me to go and invite inside.

I opened the door and everyone looked at me, my grandmother came in first and as expected thought I was my own girlfriend, but when my mother came in, she knew right away, and she just hugged me and told me she missed me.

My dad was a bit awkward, but he didn’t look upset. My uncles and aunts came in, some confused and introducing themselves and others figured it out and congratulated me. Then came the cousins, both older and young.

Once they were all inside I had about nearly fifty people, which was a bit nerve-racking. Everyone removed their winter clothing and went right to the dining room where tons of tables were set up with tons of delicious food.

Everyone got a plate and helped themselves. They all then picked chairs and started talking. I sat between my sister and boyfriend and started eating while keeping to myself. That was until my family started asking questions.

They asked what I had been up to since leaving, they asked about my relationship with my boyfriends, my plans now that I’m back, and my female cousins even asked me what I do to get my hair so nice.

I was so happy, it was clear they all accepted me, and that they were being respectful by not asking awkward questions. It was truly more than I could have asked for, especially since I was prepared for those types of questions.

As we’re eating, we always do the tradition of saying what we’re thankful for, and one by one each person will come up with something and say it out loud. Eventually, it was my turn and everyone watched me.

What was I thankful for? Lots of things really, my sister for being my best friend, my boyfriend for loving me unconditionally and supporting me, my family for accepting me, and most importantly myself, for choosing to take the path of happiness.

I really didn’t mean to say that all out loud, but it got a lot of cheers and glasses clinked, and well with my heart sprawled across the table, there was no reason to be so tense. It was time to have fun. The festivities went well into the early morning, and it was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had.