Getting through the Holidays

[K9karen]

OK! Pity Party is OVER! My grief is nuthin', and I now I feel bad that I didn't see the good in my life when I made the thread.

I guess our family ..what's left of it..is a bit disfunctional (of course, I'm the only perfect one! )

I care for my 95 y.o, alert, healthy (now) wonderful uncle and go to his house 5x a week to cook for him. The docs claim I saved his life by taking him home. Know what? I couldn't be happier! He's in great shape and I adore him.

I'm still struggling through my civil case with my wrist, being followed and taped and waiting for a court date. it just pi$$es me off.

Thanks guys! After a lapse of 10 years, I'm gonna make a gazillion chocolate chip cookes from scratch. I'm gonna ask John if we can forgo his son's Xmas party and maybe volunteer this year at a shelter or hospital. If he doesn't want to be away from his kids, I'll do it myself if I can. Oh! Maybe I'll call the SPCA and volunteer (and come home with a pup..Geez)

Thanks for the slap on the head. I realize I'm one of the lucky ones, and damn it! I'm gonna survive and be a trooper!


K9K

[Karen]

Yes, time to start a new holiday tradition of your own! Miss K-Lo told me you should also celebrate by making a whole bunch of doggie-safe cookies, too!

[Scooter's Mom]

Yes, time to start a new holiday tradition of your own! Miss K-Lo told me you should also celebrate by making a whole bunch of doggie-safe cookies, too!

Oooh, we should start a recipe thread just for pet friendly recipes!

[Ginger's Mom]

I am glad you started this thread, Karen. And I am glad to hear that you have found some strength to start some new traditions. I did volunteer at a church run Thanksgiving for the homeless two years ago, and I loved it. I would love to do it again. It does get tougher as we get older, and our families move away, or even worse, pass away. I have a very strong neighbor who was an only child who never married, and whose parents have both died. She has shown great strength during the holidays, hosting her own dinners for people in her church or in the neighborhood who do not have families with whom to spend their holiday. It inspired me to do the same the last two Christmases. This year my family in Florida was supposed to come up. I was informed this past weekend that because of financial difficulties they will not be coming. Not sure yet if I am going to prepare another big Christmas turkey this year or not. But if I do, you are invited.

[lvpets2002]

Hey I so understand.. My Stepmother (very close too) passed away first & then my Dad (also close too) right near Memorial Holidays 8 1/2 yrs ago.. For the previous 10 years I had been cooking & having at my house the Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners & family.. I also following the next few holidays was in dismay & so heartbroken.. They was so very hard to deal with.. Now I will tell you what got me thru it all was I Started Doing Meals On Wheels thru Both Holidays for the County for the Elder People.. Thank you for this Thread.. God Bless You..

[cyber-sibes]

Great thread! I also have a lot of losses that have sometimes feel like bottomless pits through the holidays. Over the years I have found a few things that helped -

- getting involved a card exchange. It makes me so happy to see cards all around the doorways and across the mantle & furniture tops. Making my own cards is especially fun, when I've had the time. ( I will even put up last years cards & get to appreciate them all over again)

- I pick up a name or two from one of those "Giving Trees" in malls or at Walmart. I miss shopping for kids now that mine are grown & gone. It's fun to go pick out toys & clothes to brighten another child's christmas, even if I don't actually see their face. The fun is in the shopping!

- I go to a big Christmas event. (a concert or ballet, something I may not usually do.) Those are usually very grand & beautiful, it feels kind of magical to be surrounded by all that glitz. Last year I went to a concert in one of these gorgeous mansions here in Newport - what a treat!

- I send donations to rescues (in my case, siberian rescues), & drop off a check & a bag of treats at the local shelter. (these don't have to be big amount, they appreciate every little bit.) It just makes me feel happy to help.

-I bake batches of my mom's cookie & pastry recipes & mail them to my sons to enjoy thru the holidays.

- Make a big traditional dinner & have friends over who also don't have family nearby.

Well, those are a few of things that I do that have helped me move from that gray depression of the past into the present moment, & enjoy the things that are part of my life now.
I feel better already - Merry Christmas everyone!

[Medusa]

Atta girl, Karen! Out w/the old, in w/the new. Traditions, that is.

[RICHARD]

I have to tell this story because I miss my dad and he was good for a laugh - you had to wait for it, but it was well worth it and memorable.

I started to laugh like an idiot, all by myself while I was in the kitchen..

----------

I was using the blender and began to put together my dish when I looked at it and my dad's voice said to me, "Se mira como vasca de gato...."


Translated?

"That (the soup I had made) looks like cat throw up..."

If you served him something that looked funky, he would stop, look down and say that-right before he'd pick up his spoon and dig in.

As time goes by you'll see that the space in your heart doesn't hurt as badly-but you can fill it with remembering some of the things that you had with the people that you loved and missed.

Pity parties are quite alright, just keep the guest list small and make them short like Zippy does-I had to laugh at that- she has no time to 'party' because she is watching the clock, Now, if us men could get women to be on time when we have a date with them!

Hang tough!