: wait, so you cant eat turkey for thanksgiving? :

so, let me tell you my challenge : : :

i come from a strong, german, meat-eating, hunting, milk drinking family.
all of 'em.
my whole life.

its never bothered me.
i loved milk as a kid. and as an adult.
my dad has been a butcher since he was a teenager.
hes an incredible hunter.
and has always been my favorite fishing buddy.

 

when i was a kid, my dad use to take me to the meat market and i would watch him butcher.

i really did think it was the coolest thing ever.

and, during deer season, he would turn our garage into a  holding pen for all the deer carcasses.

annnnd, my first job was at the meat market he worked at.

i loved it.

loved the smell of the smokehouse. 

loved it.

i didnt make the connection between animal and meat until this past summer.

like, realllly made the connection.

and i guess that was the end of it.

i just knew that i was done eating animal products.

it wasnt my job.

im not a huge animal lover.

but i do believe in compassion. and respect.

also, my body cant handle dairy, and i just dont think its my job to eat something that was alive.

im not one of those extreme maniacs thats going to say bad things about your mom if you eat meat.

its not my job to judge other humans, but its also not my job to eat someone elses mother.

so, this thanksgiving, blake and i are going to my parents house and then to my dads house.

both places will be full of milky mashed potatoes, turkey, and cream coming out of the ears.

we are going to be bringing a few dishes, but for the most part, in the next few days, dead birds and dairy will be everywhere.

and ill just deal with it.

im not going to preach or say that my way is better.

i am going to eat my cous cous and craisin salad and eat my vegan cookies and just be there.

with family.

and be thankful.

[cuz really, thats why we are all together]

and if my dad wants to show me the deer he shot last weekend, i will look.

[but dear deer, i really am sorry that you lost your life]

[and dear dad, i think you are a good human and i know you are hunting and gathering, the way you believe humans should]