Do the holidays suck for you?

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Wow, sorry to say this but your misery makes me feel fortunate. Really sorry that is the case. Guess I should be thankful for just spending time with great in laws, son, DIL and beautiful granddaughter.

Glad I could help!

Really though, the holidays have been fairly miserable for a number of years. When my Great Grandmother died some time around '02, the larger family gatherings faded away... aunts, uncles, cousins... There were some 80 people under my Great Grandmother, and the gatherings were huge.
They finally died out completely when my Grandmother died... only immediately family gatherings.

And since my divorce, being there doesn't feel right for some reason.

For my Ex-wife's first Christmas with our family, in '99 I had bought her an Easy-Bake oven. She always wanted one when she was a child, and never got one. It was recently given to my brother's daughter.

[mikeesik]

Christmas and any other eventful time is awful.
You go to your Atty's that charges $400.00 per hour. You tell him that you wish to see your Kids at least for a day or two -around Christmas-.
This costs you upwards around $1000.00
Your Atty goes to court and somewhat your offer is considered.

After much anticipation and worry, you find out that you are GRANTED a day or two for Christmas.
Of course it is never on the DAY or EVE...
You sit there in the parking lot waiting to be adjoined to your Kids on the 'court allotted' time.
You wait....and wait..and wait even longer until you see the moon has passed you from the left to the right.
Nothing.
You call your Atty and they are on 'holidays'.

After the fact , you try to gain any justice or understanding.
It costs you again, $400.00 per hour to try to get any compensatory time back from that special time.

No.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I used to really hate them. I have a history with them that isn't pretty. The last few years have been better as I've done probably a couple dozen gigs at nursing homes around the holidays. That changes your perspective. If you are able to get up and walk, talk, eat, etc without assistance, then quit whining to go do something.

Todd, I read this to my GF and between raining blows down on me and hurling verbal abuse at me she said "Well said."

[Targa Me]

Thanksgiving is my favorite... good food and family... well at least my family. On the wife's side, they can't get along for more than an hour before someone starting up a feud.
This year we're staying home. Good food and a peaceful atmosphere.

Christmas is way too commercial. Don't buy me anything and I won't buy you anything (extended family). Just give me a hug when I see you, that's all I want. The only people that get gifts are the immediate family, me, the wife and kids.

[azasadny]

When the holidays get me down, I just remember the one I spent in Saudi Arabia (Desert Shield/Storm in 1990 and 1991) and suddenly everything gets better!!! Fast!

[Por_sha911]

Christmas Song by Jethro Tull

Once in Royal David's City,
stood a lonely cattle shed,
where a mother held her baby.
You'd do well to remember the things He later said.

When you're stuffing yourselves at the Christmas parties,
you'll just laugh when I tell you to take a running jump.
You're missing the point I'm sure does not need making,
that Christmas spirit is not what you drink.

So how can you laugh when your own mother's hungry,
and how can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?

And if I just messed up your thoughtless pleasures,
remember, if you wish, this is just a Christmas song.

[Por_sha911]

I have had excellent holidays and some very dark ones. Some circumstances were beyond my control. Some were tied to personal or relationship problems. In retrospect, I can see only one consistency:
The ones where I focused on blessing someone else were far better than the ones where I focused on my needs, wants, and desires. The more I became focused on others, the less I felt my own disappointment or pain.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

I have had excellent holidays and some very dark ones. Some circumstances were beyond my control. Some were tied to personal or relationship problems. In retrospect, I can see only one consistency:
The ones that were I focused on blessing someone else where far better than the ones were I focused on my needs, wants, and desires. The more I became focused on others, the less I felt my own disappointment or pain.

food for thought here

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Todd, I read this to my GF and between raining blows down on me and hurling verbal abuse at me she said "Well said."

Feisty!

Me likey...does she have a sister?