Re: The Holidays

jellyBEAN · ‎04-03-2010

Like many respondents to this thread, I have no family left either. My immediate family is gone. The Holidays are always a reminder of when I lost my middle brother in '78. Home from the service for his Holiday leave, he was killed in an accident. Other things of ill nature have also happened during what is supposed to be a happy time.

I do enjoy seeing children happy, and other people looking forward to this season. I do a little inside/outside decorating. I send hand written cards to friends. It's the Birthday of Jesus and that is worth celebrating and a special day, family or not.

But you certainly are not alone in being alone.

I also really dislike the cold weather, but as long as the sun comes out, all is well.

Flowers are nature's way of laughing

bonnielu · ‎03-11-2010

I still have family. I feel blessed. But I feel your pain. I can only share my fathers words before he died, I might add right in front of me.
WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SAY…. Today is the first day of the rest of my life… MAKE IT COUNT….make a difference in someone’s life. I was young and the feeling of loss shattered my world. But his words kept him alive forever in my heart

Auntie CC · ‎10-28-2015

Go to the library and pick out a bunch of great books. Reading got me thru long times of isolation.

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

Have you thought of inviting every one you who is also alone for a potluck dinner? They are out there. It can be fun.

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

I'm sorry to all those that find the holidays difficult.

One of the best solutions is to step outside yourself. There are a myriad of ways to make a difference in someone else's life. Maybe do a service or RAK advent. It would be a win-win all around.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@Desertdi wrote:
@Kachina624

I have a few shirt-tail relatives who live on the East Coast. They must watch a lot of John Wayne movies, because they "think" Arizona is a desolate place that they wouldn't set foot in. Thank heaven.... di

@Desertdi. It's a miracle they don't decend on you about February. Make sure they never see a copy of Arizona Highways.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Big Joanie · ‎01-02-2015

Oh How I love that quote ...

Big Joanie · ‎01-02-2015

@beach-mom wrote:
Thinking of all of you who are "coping" with this holiday.

I'm a little sad too. I've posted about the special Thanksgivings we always had with DH's family for so many years. They are no more. The hard thing is we are so far, and we were used to staying the weekend there and having fun. IDK what they do now, but we can't invite ourselves up.

My family is gone, so they are our family.

We always spent Thanksgiving with them because it was a big deal. The one year we spent with my family was the year we moved back east from Texas. We went to my mom's for the weekend and my one uncle and two of my cousins came up from Virginia. My one cousin (divorced) loved to cook. He came up with some interesting recipes. He made the turkey, and I helped him.

Mom had already made some dishes.

We said goodbye to her on Sunday, and the week following was a nightmare. She went into the hospital with what they thought was a UTI. I went down with my baby, and she died the next morning from septic shock syndrome. DH and DD came down that day. We got her cat, and some Christmas toys we found in a box, locked up the house, and drove back home for a few days.

I'm so glad we spent that time with her.

So if I were to give anyone who is struggling advice I would say do whatever you want. I took a long nap with 2 of our kitties, woke up and watched Christmas with the Kranks, with commercials. DH watched football.

I have a lot of single friends. Most are getting together with other friends this weekend.

Part of "Splendour in the Grass" by William Wordsworth

"Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind..."

I will be thinking of you this holiday season.