Basketball has definitely reshaped how I feel about my holidays. Because I compete during the winter, the times I can be with my family for the holidays are few and far between. For example, I’ve traveled during Thanksgiving for basketball for the past six years. When you can’t be there, you appreciate it. Presents don’t matter. It’s the chance to see people.
After the WNBA season, I play overseas starting in October. Last year, I played for the Chevakata team in Vologda, Russia, nine hours north of Moscow. A lot of snow was on the ground when I got there, and it became so cold it took my breath away.
The big thing was to go see the Russian Santa Claus. Another winter holiday there is Maselenitsa, when everyone eats pancakes. I enjoyed that, and learned to make pancakes and their famous beet soup, borscht.
It was pretty festive, but sometimes isolating, especially before the rest of my family got set up on Skype. I had such a hard time getting a visa that my family decided not to hassle with visiting me. I did have an American teammate, Glory Johnson from Tennessee and the Tulsa Shock, and we made kind of a Thanksgiving feast.
While in Russia, I took advantage of Cyber Monday and shipped gifts to my parents’ house in Fairfax, Va. I got home a couple of days before Christmas to my family: my older brother, Darrell; my mom, Sharon; and my dad, Johnnie Thomas.
Dad makes a big turkey dinner for Christmas because I have missed so many Thanksgivings. My favorite dish is his macaroni and cheese. He makes the biggest pan that you’ve ever seen. Also sweet potato casserole and mashed potatoes. It’s unbelievable what he can prepare in a standard kitchen.
He learned that from his mom. My grandmother, Lydia Thomas, used to serve huge meals for the entire family — my dad is one of six siblings. Both my dad and mom’s sides of my family live around Washington, D.C. On Christmas, we go see everyone.
Last year, they gave me tons of scarves and slippers and everything for cold weather in Russia, even Uggs boots.
I leave my family around New Year’s Day to return to my team overseas. This year, I am not sure if I will go back to Russia. But, if I do, it will be like Christmas. The snow stays on the ground until May, when I am back in the United States for the WNBA season.
