Growing up, my family would regularly snack on cheese, crackers, vegetables and chips and dip while watching the parades -- local or Macy's -- and football until the turkey and fixings were done.

A few years before I moved here, my parents bought a turkey fryer, which only added to the anticipation for Thanksgiving. The crispy, yet juicy bird made our mouths water like Pavlov's dog.

While I currently do not have a turkey fryer of my own, it hasn't taken away from the Thanksgiving excitement.

This year, like the past couple, my family and I have not yet fully planned out the menu, but without a doubt, it will be great.

We've discussed possibilities like whether to have duck, turkey, ham, whatever is on sale and even the all-American favorites burgers and hot dogs.

But food is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the biggest reason I love Thanksgiving.

Most of the time, our schedules take us every which way except home, but on this one day the family is together communicating while chowing down before the inevitable Tryptophan coma.

Even with the stresses of daily life and panic to get all the side dishes done without burning the bird, it is nice to sit down with my loved ones -- whether it be a few minutes or a couple hours -- and relax with family and/or friends talking and laughing while enjoying a great meal.