I hope this thread hasn’t already been done. I thought it would be a nice idea to post the GOOD things happening for you this holiday season!
I’m really happy that the new ecig flavor I tried is as delicious as it sounded (banana nut muffin! yum).
I’m super thrilled that I don’t have to travel on Christmas this year.
I sent my dad a Christmas card. I haven’t communicated with him in years. At first I kinda just wanted to rub it in that I live halfway across the country (and far beyond his reach) now, but maybe I’ll get a card or letter in return. And oddly, I’m thinking I’d like that.
yay! Any other noteworthy happinesses this holiday season?
My feel good story of the year: I’m working in a discount store over the holidays. I had a customer buying 20 superballs and 20 little gift bags. I ask her is she’s a teacher and she says “Yes.” We get them this time of year.
Her total is around $35. She gives me one credit card. DECLINED. A second card. DECLINED. I ask her what she can do, and she just stands there.
Woman standing behind her puts her card on the counter and says “Put it on mine.” The customer and I go into shock. I say “Are you sure?” Lady #2 says “She’s a teacher. Put it on my card.”
I ask the customer if it’s all right with her and she says, in a shocked voice, “Okay.” I use the credit card, but refuse to give the teacher her bag until she promises to tell her students about what just happened.
My office did a secret Santa, which I was quite dubious about participating in (having heard various tales of bad presents and hurt feelings) but it actually turned out awesome. Everyone wrote out three suggestions or guidelines of things they would like on a slip of paper, we all picked a name at random… Despite the spending limit of $10, everyone put a lot of thought into the presents they bought and the recipients were all pretty thrilled with, and thankful for, what they got (including myself).
My family is all worried because I’m going to be “alone” for Christmas. On the contrary, I feel really blessed and reasonably content. Yeah, I’m kind of bummed that I can’t afford to go see them. I had to put my truck in the shop over this upcoming Holiday week, and can’t afford a rental or gas to drive 700 miles. In addition, I’m still recovering my lost leave time from the gov’t shutdown in October (only actual government employees got theirs back, we redheaded stepchildren, the contractors of the government world, had to eat that time).
But I HAVE a family, a good hearted non-psychotic family that cares. They’re all cracking me up right now…“you can’t come? But you’re going to be all alooone…should we send mom to be with you???”. You sillies, I have you guys, it’s not like someone who really is alone in the world (not a smug statement a blessed, grateful one). They’ll all be calling me to make sure I’m “okay”. Ah moms and dads…gotta love 'em, here I am 54 and my dad about had a heart attack when I told him sometimes I bike to work, as if I’m a 16 year old who’s going to get abducted, or that it’s the “big bad city”. I only live somewhat near Denver in a little cozy middle class bedroom community, it’s not fancy, and my area isn’t that ritzy, but it’s safe. I am very very blessed at this point in my life, and I am utterly grateful for it. I’m not rich, not financially anyway, but things are reasonably good (now, if I could just find that elusive “the One” I’d be set :D).
Christmas is gonna be GRAND. I went grocery shopping for my “lonely” little Christmas dinner before I dropped off my truck (roast corned beef and potatoes for dinner, cinnamon rolls for breakfast) so I can basically be lazy, work from home and on the two holiday days (our company gives us Christmas Eve and Christmas) I’ll be online and neck deep, along with my real life long time best friend from Alaska, in killing dragons, harpies, and other assorted GW2 foes for two whole days.
I was even able to scrape together enough to send decent Christmas checks to my kids.
My eldest daughter is going to be eleven the day after Christmas. She’s a joy. A delight. A delicious, funny, charming, silly person. She likes cats, libraries, purple anything, a dozen hugs a day if she can get them. She gets great grades in school, tells jokes that are actually funny, believes in fairies and acts if snow is her personal present and the happy dance should done for the slightest bit of a good thing including leftover ice cream in the fridge and a new puppy across the street. Eleven years ago I had hopes that motherhood might just be a little fun. I never, ever imagined that I would get to live with someone this fabulous.
She’s not perfect. Once in a while I hear a small flash of surly teenager. I wonder if junior high school will be easy or hard for us both. But in the meantime I sit here with her, grateful and happy.
I am back home-- on the other side of the country-- with the new baby, and I don’t have words for how precious it is for her grandparents and great-grandparents to finally meet her. It’s just beautiful, and I am so grateful to have so much joy in my life.
Christmas is like crack to me so I’m happy about everything!
My brothers’ ham gift card finally came so it’ll be good eating on Wednesday, with all the trimmings. We sent him and my SIL the neatest gift—it blew her away. I had a ball putting it together.
It looks like this Reverse Mortgage might go through so we can stay in our house. (Even though I’ve found a Zen level of acceptance if it doesn’t work out.)
The boys are healthy, my husband and I are happily cranky, and the cat doesn’t have fleas.
Even though we live down here in Florida now, on Christmas Eve I’m going to throw open the front door and make the obligatory pronouncement (per my mother) “I hope it snows ass deep to a giraffe!”
I had to go to the mall today. Of course the parking lots were packed, so I parked in the south 40. As I was walking in, I noticed a young person with handicapped plates drive by the handicapped spots, some of which were open, to park fairly close to me.
I saw her in the mall and commented on how impressed I was that she didn’t abuse the plates. I also said something about how her parents had done a good job, and she looked at me with big wide eyes and said that it was her grandmother’s car and that her grandmother had told her that if she ever abused the plate that her grandmother would beat her to death with her walker. The best part was when she very honestly and earnestly told me that her grandmother had health issues and would probably have a heart attack while beating her and she didn’t want to live with that for the rest of her life.
My good story is that I am so happy and joy-filled because I am happy and joy-filled.
I always was a naturally happy person. Not only is my glass half full; but I will loudly proclaim “look how much I have!”
About 10 years ago I began experiencing severe depression starting in the Fall. My Dr. noticed I would only mention depression and feelings of suicide starting in the middle of September. She diagnosed me with “SAD” (seasonal affected disorder.) Each year I started taking an SSRI when I first notice the mood change until the middle of February when I would taper off. This year my I got the prescription from the Dr. the beginning of September.
I still have not filled it.
I am happy when it is sunny or cloudy snowing or everything!
Yippee!
As for me, everything is wrapped, the tree is pretty, and I’ve watched the animated Grinch. I’m totally ready for Christmas, even if I’m too tired for my usual cookie-baking frenzy.
I’m very much looking forward to New Year’s Eve, when we get together with friends for dinner at a fondue restaurant. My morning sickness is finally fading, so I’ll actually be able to enjoy it! We’re going to hang out and play Cards Against Humanity afterwards while we wait for midnight. Most of the gang has never played, so it’s going to be great!
Also… it’s our last Christmas as just us two, which is pretty exciting in itself. Bring on 2014!
I only have a single string of lights up in my apartment. But the glow it puts out really, really brings back memories of looking at the christmas tree as a kid and feeling AWESOME.
