Sitting here in the parking lot of the store.
I just stopped to pick up a couple things.
The lady in line in front of me at the self check out was having trouble with her card, and was in some emotional distress.
She got the attendant checker who took her over to his register. I quickly paid for my two items and went around to pay for hers as well. It’s Christmas right?
She broke down in tears right there, her dad was killed yesterday in a car accident. I’m not sure she should have even been out driving, but life goes on and doesn’t give a damn about individual woes.
Walked with her out to her car, helped load her items, talked with her some, commiserated. I know the shitty feeling of losing a family member at this time of year.
Go out and do whatever you can to help someone random today or tomorrow or at least this week, and Merry frikkin Christmas
For the dark Lord of the Sith, you’re a big softy. 
Good for you.
Not nearly as grim: went to Walmart today to get grocs from the pick up location. Very busy; the 10 car lot was full but turnover was brisk. Only one cartage person, from the look of it, she was busting her butt, too. Waited maybe 20 minutes, no biggie. She brings out my stuff and the first words out of her mouth were So sorry for the delay. She was the only one bringing the items to people’s cars and I told her FWIW, you’re kicking ass, my dear (I’m at that age where you can get away with saying My dear). I also told her I would rather sit in my air-conditioned car with the comfy seats, listening to the radio than go inside that store, especially at this time of year. She agreed, verily! I wanted to tip her, but it’s a firing offense at SprawlMart to accept tips. Merry frikkin Christmas.
Today is the worst day of the year for me. My dad passed away 12 years ago today. Thank you so much for being so kind to this lady. I had people who were very kind to me after my father died and it meant so much. Your kind deed made my day (just as it’s ending) a bit nicer.
My life has been a rolling shit-storm for months. Never got around to putting up lights or a tree or nuthin. So here it is, Christmas Eve, in the dark alone, drinking.
Eh, not so bad, actually!
Happy to oblige @Rhiannon8404, even though I wish it wasn’t needed.
I have mixed feelings about the holiday season myself, and would probably be perfectly fine with it, if it just went away @Gatopescado. At least in it’s current vapid meaningless corporatized commercial aspect.
This encounter has been haunting me, making me feel grumpy and sour emotionally. Bringing to the fore a vague anger at the world for the state of things this past year.
Got Vaderling back for my share of his Christmas break this a.m. and granted a reprieve on his loss of xbox priviliges until he breaks some rule in the future and get them suspended again, just to help myself feel a little bit better.
Oh, and @burpo_the_wonder_mutt, one day I’ll post a pic of myself. Then you’ll see. Unlike Darth Vader, made in a medical lab, I was built in a build a bear workshop
One benefit of doing NOTHING for the holiday is No Clean-Up! No horsing around with taking down lights and a much lower power bill.
Hell, you’re not alone. We’re here.
(Though admittedly I didn’t show up in this thread last night – )
Indeed!
I do remember an avatar pic with pink bunny ears. 
I’m looking forward to putting 2020 behind me. What an awful year. I lost an aunt, both my uncles, and my MIL. (Whom I was very fond of.) My mother ain’t doing great right now, either.
And covid. Two of those deaths were from covid, but covid has also robbed me of most of my social interaction. And I’m anxious both about catching it from my mom and about giving it to her. (she has way more exposure than i have, to and i need to interact with her pretty extensively these days.)
Anyway, the new year can’t come soon enough.
Dork, I’m glad you were able to help someone just a little. Small kindnesses are so important when people are in great need.
One thing I am grateful to the Jehovah’s Witnesses for is my lack of obligation to celebrate Christmas. I’ve never regretted Christmas’ absence, not even as a child.
Ah, yes, the Sith Easter Bunny, Lord of The Dark Chocolate.
That was actually in honor of Vaderling, Easter happened to fall on his birthday the year he was born.
Christmas was always an unhappy day when I was growing up, thanks to my mommy-martyr who said she didn’t want anything, and that mommies don’t get Christmas or birthday presents anyway, and then acted surprised when she didn’t get anything, and destroyed things she may have gotten anyway.
Apparently this attitude was not uncommon.