It’s just another day for me. (Holidays have been awful for decades, I came from a dysfunctional family, and then was married to a man with severe issues.) Now I am alone, widowed, and afaik in OK health, have a little money, and am doing OK except for that lack of family and friends. Live long enough, and it will happen!..People died, moved away, are traveling, disabled or in nursing homes, or just got their own shit going on. So I don’t celebrate a festive Christmas with a big holly-jolly mob of kumbaya family and friends. Which is, tbh, ok. A little goes a long ways. I don’t need, want, or expect much, and I feel good sending off donations to charities at this time of year. I’m used to being alone and appreciate the attentions I receive from who still remains in my life. TBH I don’t have much to offer as far as a festive time. It’s just. not in me any more.
Yet again, everyone filled up on the hors d’ouvres Mrs Cad puts out that barely anyone ate the feast I spent literal hours making. I tell her every time this is what happens and she ignores it. So starting in 2024 my attitude is fuck it. I’m making one protein (turkey or rib roast), mashed potatoes (real not potato buds), green bean casserole and heating up some rolls and that is it.
Aaaaaaand you get 1 (one) homemade dessert. Frosted sugar cookies or frosted pumpkin cupcakes. The pies are going to be from the frozen aisle and cooked the night before. Add on some canned whipped cream.
My divorce was finalized in September. My mom died a year ago last August. I don’t keep in touch with any other “family” (cousins and such).
So today was just Monday.
(Well, I did go to my ex’s for a few minutes because she wanted me to set up the VR headset I had bought my son. It turned out not to be the version he wanted, so I wasted $500).
Fuck Christmas. I’ve always hated this holiday.
Bright Side: You get to enjoy if for the next couple days!
But I get it. Fuck those people.
My brother and I had two guests from our church over who had nothing to do for Christmas, so having four people made it worthwhile to roast a turkey, prepare plenty of side dishes, and bestow a few cheap trinkets as presents. It really was nice to give for Christmas!
Giving and volunteering on holidays always made me feel better. I can’t do the volunteering anymore.
Today I had to go to dialysis really really early. I was able to get a breakfast sandwich there.
My family was home having a nice brunch when I was cramping like crazy.
No lunch to be had when done.
I had snacks tho’.
Got home, finally and had a little bit of brunch casserole. I thought a nap might be nice.
Nope.
The person who invented RC monster trucks needs one in a place they’re not intended. Especially when it’s too wet for kids to take them outdoors. My hallway turned out to be the best roadway for them. Gah!!
Our dinner was nice, if a bit off my schedule. I managed and will survive.
Even if I can’t have pie.
This is getting to be a bit much, seriously. I’m thinking the Christmas we all remember from childhood. The Hallmark card version. The TV influenced version has got to fade away. It’s just not how we’re gonna be able to keep it up.
Our (my) kids wouldn’t spend the money, time and effort it takes to manage these things. Their kids won’t even consider it. They’ll do some version of Zoom meeting, sending e-gift cards and be done with it.
My boss’s dad died today, at home, after a brief but ferocious escalation of his illness. I like my boss very much. I’m so sad for her 
My older sister’s husband died this year. My younger sister’s husband was arrested. My brother I never liked much after we were grown up though his wife is quite nice.
It was just me, my wife and son. It was OK, but not festive as it used to be.
We had various things happen up to Christmas which were keeping things low key anyway, but then on Saturday my daughter came down with influenza and my son had got it Sunday. Christmas was spent washing out the bedding and other things from when threw up.
Everyone’s in a pissy mood either because they are sick or because they have to take care of sick adolescents.
My sister-in-law is up from Taiwan and I’m just hoping she doesn’t take it back with her.
My family gathering was postponed until next weekend, so I spent Xmas alone. Binged some cartoons, watched football and had leftover Chinese food. I regret nothing.
Mine was pretty crummy - not as bad as some of you though.
Tradition is Christmas Eve at my sister’s house with all of my extended family. She texted everyone on Friday asking if we were ok with doing Christmas on the 30th instead. Her daughter and granddaughter were down with a horrible flu. So everyone was good with that. My husband and I then switched plans regarding my MIL. My son is an only child, we’re all she has. But she is far from my favorite person. I’ve mentioned her in other posts. I tolerate her. My husband feels the same way, and that’s his mother! Instead of visiting her on Christmas Day, which is what we usually do, we decided to move her to Eve. We were going to bring lasagna, salad, garlic bread and a dessert to her house. Back story: she broke her wrist 3 weeks ago and has been the biggest baby about it. She calls and cries to my husband that she doesn’t know how much more she can take, etc, etc. It’s her left wrist and she’s right-handed.
Around noon she called my husband and said, “I’m dying, I have to go to the hospital”. Yes she actually said she was dying. She was in pain and her stomach was swelling up. We have really lost our patience. Two days before she called and said she wanted us to call the ambulance for her. We went to her house and she was sitting there with her coat and purse ready to go. I told her they won’t take you to the hospital. You’re not sick and you haven’t had an accident. So we settled her down that time. This time she was adamant. So we picked her up and took her to the ER. They did numerous blood tests, urine test, EKG, and CT scan. The doc came in and told her everything checks out fine. There’s nothing wrong other than a bruise on her side from when she fell and broke her wrist. She actually asked the doctor at that point if she could just stay at the hospital for 3 days!!! He told her he has absolutely no reason to admit her. She kept grasping at straws for reasons she should stay. She told them and us (earlier) that she couldn’t feed herself and she couldn’t get out of bed. As she was telling the nurse that, I noticed she had applied a full face of makeup that day!!! Then when they asked her if she could get up so they could listen to her lungs, she popped up from a totally flat on her back position like a jack n the box!! She didn’t even have to use her arms or hands! We brought her home and made sure she had something to eat and left. We spent 5 hours at the hospital on Christmas Eve for absolutely nothing.
UGH!
We were so beat. Christmas Day we just sat on the couch and stared at the TV. Of course she was miffed that we didn’t come to her house for Christmas.