As Thanksgiving approaches, favorite traditional foods make a more common appearance on the menu. My husband made a crock pot turkey dinner the other day, and made a cranberry relish as a side. Sitting in a clear plastic container in the  fridge, the relish reminded me strongly of a dish I loved as a child. I could almost taste the tart cranberries, sweetened by the smallest amount of apples. I eagerly awaited dinner.

At dinner, I couldn’t stand the relish. I slathered it on the turkey to make my taken portion disappear as soon as possible. You see, it hadn’t met my expectations.

There were too many apples.

Now, an empty bowl of the relish sits next to me. I had to cut myself off after seconds. It’s the exact same relish, with the exact same taste. Why do I love it now, instead of detesting it like the first time? What changed?

My expectations.

I now view it as an applesauce. It is the best applesauce I ever had. Funny how our expectations can completely color an experience. May your Thanksgiving be appreciated for what it is, and not for what you would have it be.
-Astrid