The Holidays Approacheth

After having so much fun on the 4th being with friends and family at the lake, it seemed especially quiet and empty when I came home. Usually H and I would have company at our house for a 4th of July celebration or we’d go to a park where a band was playing and there…
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” — Helen Keller I started to get down in the dumps again today…
My cousin A stopped at my house on Memorial Day to check out how our remodeling turned out. “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. “Yes, thank you, it certainly is,” was my response. The countertops are called Yellow River — so flowy and pretty. Heavy sigh… After oohing and ahhhing over the house, we drove out to…
Wild Geese by Mary Oliver You do not have to be good.You do not have to walk on your kneesfor a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.You only have to let the soft animal of your bodylove what it loves.Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.Meanwhile the world goes on.Meanwhile the sun…
Thanks for all your kind comments and thanks also to the people who have privately e-mailed me. I love how you see the positive things in me, and the reminders that I’m not alone in this. Java keeps trying to comfort me. She keeps pawing at me, laying her head in my lap, licking my…
“That’s life, that’s what all the people say. You’re riding high in April, Shot down in May But I know I’m gonna change that tune, When I’m back on top, back on top in June.” While taking Java for a walk, I saw an elderly woman standing at her trailer with her horse. I was…
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I have been very fortunate to live close to family. We have spent some holidays away, and it is hard, but also enjoyed the time at home too. Sounds like you will have a great time with your cousin.
I’m fortunate in living close to family, albeit a fairly small family. The tradition is that they all come stay at my house for Xmas. But, I have to admit that I dread Christmas every year. I absolutely hate the whole commercial side, and much of my family has bought into it bigtime. I breath a sigh of relief when it’s over.
Maybe I need to work on my attitude this year! Or, try to change the family gift traditions that keep growing and growing.
I had a few years when my family was all away for xmas and I couldn’t travel due to my back. I used the days around Xmas to enjoy the utter solitude on the trails and ski slopes.
But, I love your attitude!
I cook the turkey and trimmins for around 36~38 and transport it to my MILs house ’cause she likes to have it at HER house, she’s 82 and not in the best of health.
After dinner the guys get out the guns and go target shootin’ and compare wepons. The kids climb up the hill behind the house to slide down the huge sliding rock until they burn holes in their britches.
Some couples will talk long walks in the woods where I swear we have had great nieces and nephews conceived. This year I want to try to get a family photo.
Christmas is ham and all the trimmings at my house. Much easier than transporting a meal that large.
Have a fantastic day enjoying your blessings and traditions!!!
The first 3 or 4 years after my divorce was awful for just those reasons, I had lost that whole side of his family (even some I liked, a sister-in-law that I considered like a sister)…and OUR friends. It was like I had to start all over again. But now, my friends are Mine and Mine alone! (darn it)
I was lucky, of course, to still have my own family.
I think extending our idea of family and our circle of contact is a good idea, no matter our life, age or marital situation.
Maery Rose…In terms of family, we have one of our daughters and her family in town, but that is pretty much it for local family. Our oldest daughter is in Nevada with her crew…so, what we do during the holidays…is invite friends who were going to just stay home alone or have no family. Thanksgiving may be 10 or 12 people, but Christmas Eve is gigantic. We may have 25 or 30 and have been doing it for years. No presents, just food and good conversation. It is quite a mix and the best pot luck food you could ask for. You and Java are invite (the horses too).
Dusty – I know your clan has a good time whenever they gather.
KB – I’m with you on not liking the big, extravagant gifts. It’s so hard to pick things for other people when people are always buying for themselves and don’t really need anything. I really appreciate a purse size hand lotion or my son once made a CD of a bunch of music he knew I’d like. I loved that present.
Nezzy – I can just picture the guys out shooting after dinner! That’s one way to wake up everyone after eating lots of turkey.
Lynn – Well, hopefully this will be the last holiday I’ll be spending completely away from all my family.
Roxanne – I really believe so too.
Lori – I wish I could make it. I’m definitely traveling somewhere next year at the holidays. I wish I knew other people in my situation, but I don’t.