Holiday season

Message

52FM · #1 Post by **52FM** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:31 am

I realize there has been sentiments of "seasonal blues" expressed on the board - which I very well understand. But I like to think of this as an almost "forced" time of year to simply assure we have our priorities straight. Isn't there a sense of self-satisfaction that comes from almost defiantely refusing to get caught up in all the commercialism?

And there have been many years, especially when the kids were dmall, that I very willingly got caught up in the commercialism. The key word is WILLINGLY - in other words, the season meant to me what I wanted it to mean. Not what I was told it shoudl mean.

And that evolves or at least changes.

This year, for me, it's family. We're sort of reached a "truce" in our counselling sessions enough to concentrate on enjoying having the kids home without that hanging over us. Having two kids away at college most of the year, it's great having the activity in and out as they bring their friends over. My wife decorates the house beautifully for every season (it's a labor of love for her, though it's gotten more of a chore as we've gotten older.) But the payoff came when my younger son came home after his last final - walked in the door exhausted - and said "Wow, I forgot how great the house looks at this time of year! What a difference from our dumpy apartment at school." Well, that's about as expressive aqs he gets to us usually, but the look on his face said it all - I coudl see all the stress pour out and a warm feeling overcome him. "It's really good to be home" I know he was feeling.

And the boyfreind situation with my daughter is still on her mind - but now she's got other activities to help her keep her mind off of it and just have fun with her friends, her brother, and his friends.

As far as my older son, he's gradually getting closer to girlfriend - his first serious relationship - and the confidence he's gaining as a result is great to see. We're taking the two of them out to dinner this Friday - and she actually asked my son if they coudl come back ot our house to play board games with us. "I really like your parents" she said to my son once - especially your dad." I only mention that becuase I think it shows that I've made progess getting out of my funk for the last many months.

Well, this sounded like one of those boring Christmas letters people write to brag about their families. Sorry - but the wrinkle here is that I've also referred to marital issues and relationship issues and personality issues on other posts. You don't see THAT in too many of those hokey letters!

Unfortunately - I don't have any time off over the holidays except Christmas Day itself. Fortunately, I have a job. (Which was not true for a month over the summer; I don't recall if I posted about that.)

Anyway - I hope everyone can find a measure of peace, love and friendship this season. Obviously it's best to have that all year round - but as I said this is as good a time as any to reflect on what gifts we have (of the non-material kind).

Ith - I assume your planned vacation in Mexico is still on. Maybe you're already there? Anyway - I hope you have (or had or are having) a GREAT time sipping "margs" at the poolside and enjoying time with just you and your husband. Such a stressful time you've had - and what a great way to end the year!

Everyone else - try not to let the holiday dictate your mood! It IS a wonderful life! I've always enjoyed talking to you all and expect that to continue for quite some time.

Thanks, Bob-san for keeping this going!

All my best to my friends in the WeAreAwake community - Ith, Congruous, Bob-san, JM, JLH, Lemon, Silvermoon, Picknick - and anyone else I missed!

"52" - more commonly known as Bill

#2 Post by **Bob_san** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:48 pm

Thanks, Bob-san for keeping this going!

You're welcome and thanks to you and everyone for making this the great community that it is!

And to everyone, Happy Holidays, whichever one it is that you celebrate, and a Happy New Year!

I think I will have a free evening this weekend to sit by the fire and watch some favorite films like LIT!

I65 · #3 Post by **I65** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 2:07 am

Thanks for the holiday greetings.

The trip to Mexico is still on. We are leaving the 24th and coming home the 30th.

http://www.palaceresorts.com/Resorts/Av ... /Index.asp

Here is a link to the resort that we are staying at, if anyone wants to meet me there for a Margarita.

Merry Christmas to you and yours Bill, and Happy Festivus for the rest of us.

Hugs,
Ithy

Just Like Honey... · #4 Post by **Just Like Honey...** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:39 am

I'll try to make it. Nothing like drinking in the sun on Christmas eve. I can stop by Chicago for a 'nog on the way. Make sure to pick up some cinnamon sticks, 52

Flyonthewall · #5 Post by **Flyonthewall** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:33 pm

Thanks for the Holiday Wishes... I wish the same for you and your families.

Im trying to be optimistic as I have been laid off from my work since 12/01/06. Just shows how caring and loving

these corporate machines are. Being a single dad with my 2 boys to feed, not to mention my mortgage.. oh well.. lol. No sense in bearing grudges..

I've decided to apply for loans and attempt to finish my certification in film / tv editing. Its going to be around $35k for about 1 1/2 years worth of concentrated study but I think its going to be worth it.

Ith.. Have fun in Mexico. I'll be raisin a marg to your honor when I meet my friends later today.

Again, Happy Holidays. I wish peace, comfort, and joy to everyone.

lemoncupcake · #6 Post by **lemoncupcake** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:20 am

Happy Holidays Everyone!
My Dad refuses to celebrate the holidays since my Mother died, so i've been baking Christmas Cookies for all the neighbours. It's really nice to see the smiles on their faces.

52, Your growth process continues to amaze me. Most people would've given up. Everything you've been going through and working through takes greater courage than you'll ever know, there is a light at the end of it all and i believe you'll make it there.

Ith, You're going to love that place! My cousin was married there.

Fly, Good Luck with finishing your education. I'm glad you're remaining optimistic because thinking any other way would be holding you back. Sometimes instead of thinking about the way things are, it's good to think of the way things should be, and could be, it's those thoughts that help most people through the day. Keep a smile on your face, it will all work out somehow.

tsooml · #7 Post by **tsooml** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:34 am

"May I quote from [i:5ff87d6dd3]A Christmas Carol in Prose: A Ghost Story of Christmas[/i:5ff87d6dd3], published in 1843?

[quote:5ff87d6dd3]"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew: "Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I belive that it has done be good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"[/quote:5ff87d6dd3]
I recently heard an interesting radio show discussing [i:5ff87d6dd3]A Christmas Carol[/i:5ff87d6dd3]. (Feel free to post any other good resources.) I started reading it to my mom this year; it's been a few years since we've done so, and we used to do so regularly. We enjoy reading to each other still.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, and my atheist self will certainly celebrate it, with my and my wife's three parents."

Congruous · #8 Post by **Congruous** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:30 pm

This is from chapter 28 of "The Pickwick Papers," another great work by Mr. Dickens.

And numerous indeed are the hearts to which Christmas
brings a brief season of happiness and enjoyment. How many
families, whose members have been dispersed and scattered far
and wide, in the restless struggles of life, are then reunited, and
meet once again in that happy state of companionship and mutual
goodwill, which is a source of such pure and unalloyed delight;
and one so incompatible with the cares and sorrows of the world,
that the religious belief of the most civilised nations, and the rude
traditions of the roughest savages, alike number it among the
first joys of a future condition of existence, provided for the
blessed and happy! How many old recollections, and how many
dormant sympathies, does Christmas time awaken!

We write these words now, many miles distant from the spot
at which, year after year, we met on that day, a merry and joyous
circle. Many of the hearts that throbbed so gaily then, have
ceased to beat; many of the looks that shone so brightly then,
have ceased to glow; the hands we grasped, have grown cold; the
eyes we sought, have hid their lustre in the grave; and yet the old
house, the room, the merry voices and smiling faces, the jest,
the laugh, the most minute and trivial circumstances connected
with those happy meetings, crowd upon our mind at each
recurrence of the season, as if the last assemblage had been but
yesterday! Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the
delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the
pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the
traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fireside and
his quiet home!

silvermoon · #9 Post by **silvermoon** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 6:59 pm

happy holidays everyone, I had a great xmas day, i hope everyone else's was as good as mine! and i hope your turkey was as good as mine, cos without being funny it was absolutely gorgeous...

thanks to bob for keeping us all together here, merry christmas and a happy new year to all!