Can you believe it - Christmas only 3 months away.

GA Granny - you will have to take a number. My permanent room mate buys dark chocolate peppermint bark and locks it in a safe. I have the combination but that is too confusing when I have urges. He also visits his manager's office when he is on site to raid the candy jar for me. He turns it over and picks:)
 
I don't wanna bum out all the celebrants here, but I have always despised this time of year, for many reasons, some of which have changed over time. What remains constant is (1) I am Jewish; (2) I am too poor to buy wonderful presents for people I love; (3) It seems to me Xmas is a relentless hell of chores, expectations and disappointments and rolls around e every year; (4) I have a small family which is only getting smaller and more dispersed. Also I guess the darkness doesn't really help. This Xmas I will probably go to see the new Dylan movie, "A Complete Unknown" by myself.
 
Marcy Sheiner said:
I don't wanna bum out all the celebrants here, but
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Then don't. The German word for but is "aber," and the joke is when somebody starts a sentence like that and adds "aber," it's a case of "here comes The Big But."

I'm old. My immediate family here is small. My friends are all either dead or live thousands of miles away. I don't spring for expensive gifts. I am grateful for time to spend with my DD, DSIL, DGD, DGS, DS and DSIL. Nobody expects anything.

Bitter? Bitter! Table for one...

Great way to start making friends:rolleyes:
 
It's the fault of the consumer that stores keep putting out merchandise so early. If no one bought anything until December, the stores would realize this was a bad idea and scale back. But people keep buying, buying and buying - driven by the fact that there are only so many days left before Christmas. I am not a Christmas enthusiast - I enjoy the holiday but am always glad when its over.
 
Marcy Sheiner said:
I don't wanna bum out all the celebrants here, but I have always despised this time of year, for many reasons, some of which have changed over time. What remains constant is (1) I am Jewish; (2) I am too poor to buy wonderful presents for people I love; (3) It seems to me Xmas is a relentless hell of chores, expectations and disappointments and rolls around e every year; (4) I have a small family which is only getting smaller and more dispersed. Also I guess the darkness doesn't really help. This Xmas I will probably go to see the new Dylan movie, "A Complete Unknown" by myself.
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Actually there's quite a few here in the same position. Many incuding myself will be alone on Christmas day. You get used to it, it;s just another day.

I don't buy presents for anyone ( except my daughter)... bcause I have no-one left to buy presents for... I love giving them, it's my favourite part of the year... so it saddens me that I can't give.. so I just make extra donations to the Charity shop at christmas.. and I buy small things.. and wrap them and drop them off at the Salvation Army homeless hostel.

Buy yourself something for Christmas.. whch brings you joy... sit on your sofa, and be happy you don't have to cook a mammoth meal and clear up afterwards.. be thankful you have a computer with people in it, you can talk to... many , many people don't have that, and are living alone, elderly and in poverty.

perhaps you could volunteer at a local homeless or food charity on Christmas day, they're always looking for help. We used to do that years ago...in London.. I tell you those Christmas days are some of the happiest days you can spend..
 
hollydolly said:
Actually there's quite a few here in the same position. Many incuding myself will be alone on Christmas day. You get used to it, it;s just another day.

I don't buy presents for anyone ( except my daughter)... bcause I have no-one left to buy presents for... I love giving them, it's my favourite part of the year... so it saddens me that I can't give.. so I just make extra donations to the Charity shop at christmas.. and I buy small things.. and wrap them and drop them off at the Salvation Army homeless hostel.

Buy yourself something for Christmas.. whch brings you joy... sit on your sofa, and be happy you don't have to cook a mammoth meal and clear up afterwards.. be thankful you have a computer with people in it, you can talk to... many , many people don't have that, and are living alone, elderly and in poverty.

perhaps you could volunteer at a local homeless or food charity on Christmas day, they're always looking for help. We used to do that years ago...in London.. I tell you those Christmas days are some of the happiest days you can spend..
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I heartily second this, especially your last statement, @hollydolly. My ex and our three kids and I used to volunteer delivering and serving at community Thanksgiving dinners. (I know this thread is about Christmas, but obviously there are Christmas and other related holiday events too). There was a wonderful atmosphere of camaraderie, and our kids always had a blast as well as, I hope, learning the value of community service.

I would recommend volunteering to anyone who will be spending the holidays alone but doesn't want to.
 
Christmas starts on a December 6 which is St Nick. All present ordered:)
The last three years were very quiet with son's surgeries. Tree and have not will go up Thanksgiving. The cookie request list is short but labor intensive. Habanero peanut brittle anyone?
Dinner for friends will be grazing.
Dinner for us will be surf and turf.
Breakfast - heated delights, coffee, cat, company.
 
hollydolly said:
Actually there's quite a few here in the same position. Many incuding myself will be alone on Christmas day. You get used to it, it;s just another day.

I don't buy presents for anyone ( except my daughter)... bcause I have no-one left to buy presents for... I love giving them, it's my favourite part of the year... so it saddens me that I can't give.. so I just make extra donations to the Charity shop at christmas.. and I buy small things.. and wrap them and drop them off at the Salvation Army homeless hostel.

Buy yourself something for Christmas.. whch brings you joy... sit on your sofa, and be happy you don't have to cook a mammoth meal and clear up afterwards.. be thankful you have a computer with people in it, you can talk to... many , many people don't have that, and are living alone, elderly and in poverty.

perhaps you could volunteer at a local homeless or food charity on Christmas day, they're always looking for help. We used to do that years ago...in London.. I tell you those Christmas days are some of the happiest days you can spend..
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I did volunteer on Thanksgiving a few years ago, bringing a meal to people who couldn't get out. It was so depressing, I have no intention of doing it on Xmas!
 
Georgiagranny said:
Then don't. The German word for but is "aber," and the joke is when somebody starts a sentence like that and adds "aber," it's a case of "here comes The Big But."

I'm old. My immediate family here is small. My friends are all either dead or live thousands of miles away. I don't spring for expensive gifts. I am grateful for time to spend with my DD, DSIL, DGD, DGS, DS and DSIL. Nobody expects anything.

Bitter? Bitter! Table for one...

Great way to start making friends:rolleyes:
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And an "ABERLE" is a naysayer aka negative nelly.
 

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