A nice thing about not having a family during Christmas, I don't have to spend any of

[RB TexLa]

my money on presents. Nothing, not one dime.

[KansDem]

1. Tell me about it!

Got home from work last Thursday to find water gushing out of a broken pipe and flooding the garage. It had frozen, cracked the pipe, then thawed.

I did my best to stem the flood (shut off water and applied a repair kit) but had to have a plumber out on Friday to fix it properly.

$400!!

That sure put a crimp in the ol' holiday shopping!

Now when a member of the family asks me, "Hubby/Daddy, what are you getting me for Xmas?" I reply "Running water."

[Luminous Animal]

2. I have family and I don't spend a dime on them.

(Except for my daughter - I buy her socks.)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I wish I had someone to buy gifts for.

I have almost no family, wish I had someone to spend money on.

[JI7]

4. you can buy gifts for poor families, especially those with kids

and buy toys for them.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

23. I usually do the Toys for Tots thing - but it would be nice

to have a bunch of family to celebrate with. I just don't understand why anyone would be glad they don't have any family members around so they don't have to spend money on them.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

29. We're your family, TVO! What's for Christmas dinner and what time? ... Oh, and I want socks! n/t

[FrodosPet]

50. I suspect it was more of a lament than a brag

OTOH, there are a few misanthropes here.

[msanthrope]

67. Hey!!! I love my family and I love getting them presents. nt

[Archae]

70. Depends on what a family is like.

Most of the horribly racist uncles and aunts I had have died.

Now, I have one relative who likes to make things up, and nitpick.

[cilla4progress]

5. I'm touched by your post.

I have a very small family, and few to buy for.

I share your loneliness.

Sending blessings and love your way. May you find people to share your love with.

[Phlem]

6. Orphans would love you.

My heart breaks for them.

-p

[firsttimer]

13. I'm the same

No family at all but I buy one for mailman , trash man , all the girls at dunkin donuts I get my coffee at every morning and evening

Also I go to Walmart ( I know I will be blasted for saying this)and buy just about every treat on the shelve and drop it off to my local animal shelter .


If you think about it there are a lot of people you can shop for.



Merry Christmas

[PearliePoo2]

30. You are very generous and you sound like a really nice person, but please...

Do NOT buy any animal treats at Wal-Mart.
They sell poisonous shit imported from China with ingredients that will kill pets. Really!
There have been many re-calls but sadly not in time for the animals that died.
Everything else you are doing is awesome!
Take the treats back and get your money back....please!
Always read the label on anything you purchase for country of origin.
Thanks!

[Beacool]

18. You may have almost no family, but I'm sure that you have dear friends.

You can buy them a little something.

[a kennedy]

19. We buy gifts for our older veterans. They have requests written down and we will

choose two of the requests lists and buy what is written on the lists. I feel they really need to be remembered also.

[FSogol]

31. I'm here for your gift giving needs!

Just kidding.

Buy a toy and drop it of here:
http://www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys-city-county.aspx?txtState=MINNESOTA

Might not affect you directly, but it will go a long way toward making the world a better place.

[abakan]

81. I have no family left...

But I have friends who are like family and we get together, feast, exchange gifts and laugh a lot. Is it the same as when my mother was alive, no, and it never will be, but you have the choice to be happy with others or feel bad because you feel left out. I choose happiness and remember past Christmases with joy. If you have no family, make one, it will do you good.
Just as a suggestion, you might see about sharing your time Christmas day feeding those who are even less fortunate than you.

[Captain Stern]

7. I get gifts for people in my family.

I enjoy it.

But I sure as hell don't drink with them.

[Warpy]

8. I'd rather still have my family, thanks.

However, it's nice to get through the season without having to pretend a bunch of stuff I don't feel.

I think they kept every single present I ever sent them. I know my mother filched a couple of bad paintings out the trash when I left town for Boston.

The best presents were the ones I found threadbare and stained because I knew they'd been used over and over.

[Control-Z]

9. A nice thing about losing both my parents

Last edited Wed Dec 18, 2013, 04:17 AM - Edit history (1)

before finishing High School, I've never had to, and never will have to, deal with their age related illnesses or help them because of plain old age. Or deal with their end of life wishes, or their funeral arrangements, or the heartbreak of one losing the other first. Or spend a penny on Christmas gifts for them.

Yeah, it's a real nice thing. I've actually said it out loud - made a joke of it - and laughed.




What I would give to still have them.

[malaise]

10. Great post

Now I understand that Conan clip

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024187954

Geez!!!

[Control-Z]

48. Thanks, malaise.

Wishing you wonderful holidays!

[malaise]

51. Back at you

[PearliePoo2]

35. I went through every one of those things with my aging parents.

And I would not trade the time I had with them for anything.
I miss my mom and dad so much, especially this time of year.
I would love to be able to go to their home TODAY with presents for them.

wish I could rec your post.

[Control-Z]

99. My heart breaks to imagine

how difficult those times were for you, PearliePoo2. But what a joy it must have been to have them in your life for so long. I glad you appreciate them as you do. Not everyone does. I think some people really just can't.

Wishing you the happiest holidays!

[grasswire]

101. this brings to miind the following lines

"Backward turn backward
O time in thy flight
Make me a child again
Just for tonight."

Brings a tear to my eye. No Christmas in my adult life is ever as good as the chilldhood ones with many cousins and dear ones.

[Jesus Malverde]

62. .

[Control-Z]

100. Thank you, Jesus Malverde!

I hope the holidays have been warm and happy for you.

[llmart]

95. Same here.....

I would have given my left arm to have my parents in my life when I became an adult but I didn't have that. I got married, had children, went to college, got older, all of it without either one of my parents and I get upset when my cohorts complain about their parents.

Now I'm a senior citizen myself and a couple of my siblings have passed away and I see my once large family getting smaller and smaller. That's hard to deal with.

[pintobean]

11. What happened to your wife?

[RB TexLa]

12. She isn't my wife anymore. Nothing happened to her

[PasadenaTrudy]

14. I only have a brother left

and my boyfriend. But, we don't do the gift thing. They are in their 50s and I'm almost there myself. We have everything we need. More money would help, but

[Holly_Hobby]

15. Same here!

I have family, but they're always with in-laws, so I never see them on holidays. We don't see hub's family either, too self involved with themselves to think of anyone else. We don't have kids, so we spend holidays at the casino, great food, usually turn $20 into $30 or $40 on the one armed bandits.

[LisaLynne]

16. I just read an article ...

may have been on "Cracked" that was something like the top 10 overrated life decisions and basically, if you read it, it was that there are pros and cons to all of the things we supposedly "have" to have done or have in life. It's just that people don't want to talk about a lot of the cons, such as marriage or having kids, because heck, once you've done it, there's no going back, ha ha. But yeah, I think I've gotten caught up many times in the "oh poor me I don't have kids or a family of my own" when really there's no way to tell that I would honestly be happier if I did, you know? I kind of have this picture of me being like all those Victorian authors who wrote about women going crazy under the restraints and pressures of a family.

So ... I don't know, your post just made me think about that. There are always pros and cons to everything. And happiness is so often about attitude.

[grasswire]

102. I'd like to read that article. nt

[Skidmore]

17. We buy for the little ones

and try to replace one household item if needed or exchange a want if everything is in repair.

[Beacool]

20. Don't you have any friends?

I exchange gifts with many people. Aside from the gifts for the neighbors, hair stylist, nail salon, laundry guy and a handful of people from church.

I also write so many cards that I think I went through 4 boxes this year.

I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. I hate to say it...you are Scrooge

I am Jewish and we still gave a few things to friends, including money to the widow of the man, who's family saved my father during the holocaust. I am glad to put that money in the mail to Poland every year. I guess moral obligations are alien to you too. Me, and I are your vocabulary, not we or us.

If you think this makes you nice, no it does not. It makes me feel sorry for you, to points of really sorry. What happened to you to make you this selfish I have no idea.

[pinboy3niner]

22. +1

[Gidney N Cloyd]

40. It's possible to be a generous and sharing person outside the boundaries of Christmas giving.

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. Check posting history

It will also explain others response.

[Spirochete]

24. I have a sister,

niece and nephew close by - all Jehovah Witnesses. So I don't usually give or receive any presents either.

[el_bryanto]

25. Yeah it's great.

Nothing better than being alone at the holidays to put your life in perspective. Just underlines what a cruel meaningless joke life is.

Bryant

[MindMover]

26. It is way better to give than to receive ...

In more ways than anyone can count ....

[Jamaal510]

27. I have a family,

but they're not expecting anything from me because they know that I'm in school and don't have a job. Plus, I've already given both of my parents and my big brothers and big sister some of my hand-me-down clothes and hair products. I think I did my share of giving for the year already.

[B2G]

28. Bah humbug

Hope you have a lovely Christmas anyway.

[Shrike47]

32. I like buying, and making, Christmas presents.

You can 'adopt' a family through a local agency like the Salvation Army and go all out if you want.

I never had daughters, only sons, so I like to get girlie things.

[FSogol]

33. I feel sorry for you. n/t

[a la izquierda]

49. No kidding.

I'm not feeling in the Christmas spirit this year because of some personal stuff, but sheesh.

[Iggo]

34. That is nice!

[cherokeeprogressive]

36. You never fail to entertain.

[cbayer]

37. I've got family and I don't spend a dime at this point.

At the most, I will donate to a worthy cause and let them know that I gave in the name of my family.

One of the nicer outcomes from this approach is that it pretty much gives them permission to not spend a dime on me.

I think everyone wins.

[SoCalDem]

42. My son always laughs at our anniversary present to them.. 2 goats & 8 chickens

for a family in Africa..

We DID take them out for dinner

[cbayer]

43. I love that as a gift.

I've donated to the Second Harvest drives on DU in the past, but it doesn't look like they are going to do that.

I may "adopt" a baby elephant in Kenya this year. I had the great fortune of visiting the orphanage where the babies are brought when their mothers are killed by poachers. It's a truly amazing place. There's a great IMAX film on it.


Happy holidays to you. Enjoy your family.

[SammyWinstonJack]

38. ugh.

[SomethingFishy]

39. I don't "have" to either..

I enjoy doing it. Makes people happy.

[LanternWaste]

44. I imagine that if you did have a family, they'd feel the same way about you.

I imagine that if you did have a family, they'd feel the same way about you.

Happy hols!

[roody]

45. I don't spend either. I give year round.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

46. Hug your money at Christmastime

You're one-of-a-kind.

[RB TexLa]

47. I think many of you misunderstood. This is a happy post!

Calm down and share in someone else's happiness.

[99Forever]

55. That's where you are wrong.

No one "misunderstands" you at all. What you are all about is quite clear.

[Ikonoklast]

52. That is truly awesome, I am so happy for them.

Not having anyone to put up with your nonsense saves others untold misery.

[Starry Messenger]

53. Your wife finally came to her senses.

Smart lady. Hope her holidays going forward are with someone who is fun to be with.

[pintobean]

54. But, he was so much fun at parties.

[Orrex]

73. Holy shit--I just read through a few of those threads.

Emily Post could learn a thing or two from this party animal.

[RB TexLa]

58. Wow, I think you win the prize for best attempt at internet bullying on this one

be proud of your behavior and how far you went to insult a stranger. Hope you feel good about yourself.

[tkmorris]

59. Oh please dude.

You knew EXACTLY what you were doing when you started this thread. You got precisely what you asked for.

[RB TexLa]

60. It was a happy post. People here don't seem to like when others are happy

[Orrex]

65. Happy? No problem. Smarmy and patronizing? Problem.

I accept that this might not have been your intended tone, but it's clear from the arc of discussion that that's how it came across.

[RB TexLa]

71. It wasn't either of the latter.

[Orrex]

72. As I noted...

I accept that this might not have been your intended tone, but it's clear from the arc of discussion that that's how it came across.

[RB TexLa]

74. That's what other people made up. Many so they can act as tough internet bullys and insult a

stranger from their keyboard.

And then there are some people who just do not like to see or hear of anyone being happy.

[Orrex]

75. Oh, please.

Inspired by this thread, I've scanned through several dozen of your previous posts/threads in which you seem to revel in being rude and making people uncomfortable simply for your own amusement. From the replies in those threads and in this one, I'm not alone in that assessment.

So either you're a bright and noble soul who wants everyone to be happy in spite of your churlish, in-your-face storytelling, or else a whole bunch of people have seen right through your antics.


I know which option seems more likely.

[pintobean]

76. After 10 years, you're not a stranger

And people calling you out on your flame bait OPs is not bullying.

[RB TexLa]

78. I know none of you people. I posted something happy and joyfull and then out came the insults. I

haven't insulted anyone in this thread. But that's not how I get treated. All because I am happy about something.

[pintobean]

80. But, we know you

At least, your posting history on DU over the last decade. The good news is that no one believes you're dumb enough not to know that your OP is flamebait.

[RB TexLa]

83. It's not flamebait. It's an honest expression of happiness

[pintobean]

85. Let's just agree

not to drink with each other and be done with this.

[Oilwellian]

63. Actually, I would say you were the one with cruel intent

Having recently lost my youngest son, I would give anything to have him with us for Christmas. Your OP is dripping with cruel intentions.

[RB TexLa]

64. I'm very sorry for your loss. But my post had no cruel intentions, it was joyful and happy.

[laundry_queen]

86. That you have so little self-reflection

that you could not have predicted how your post would come across to those who have lost loved ones says all I need to know about you. I think most of the responses in this thread are apt.

[RB TexLa]

87. I've lost loved ones as well. That's part of the reason I don't have a family.

[laundry_queen]

89. And you see that as 'nice'?? nt

[RB TexLa]

90. I see it as nice that I do not have to give my money to people for gifts and that I don't

have to deal with all the hassle of traveling and making plans. Saving money is a good thing that makes people happy.

[laundry_queen]

91. Not usually at the expense of having family. wth. nt

[RB TexLa]

92. It wasn't at their expense. They just died that's what happens to people older than you.

In most cases.

I fully expected to out live them.

[laundry_queen]

93. Still, most people would rather have their family

and talking about how 'nice' it is to not have to buy gifts for loved ones who have passed is...well...how do I say this....bizarre. I think you like getting a rise out of people with this thread, however.

[RB TexLa]

94. No, I wouldn't rather have that. But that is what happens over time. I don't see acceptance of

reality as something bad. That's the situation I'm in, longing for something that is not possible is foolish.

[DeadEyeDyck]

56. I don't give out of duty. I give because I want too. nt

[DrDan]

57. PLUS, you have that box buried in your backyard to keep you warm in your later years

with all your dimes

[yuiyoshida]

61. My Family really doesn't Celebrate Kurisumasu

Its a romantic holiday for them, like Valentines Day. I am just looking forward to
eating the Kurisumas keki or maybe just....



Sleeping in.

[RBInMaine]

66. How about Toys Fot Tots or other charities, even if small amounts?

[Codeine]

68. I thought you had a wife with whose coworkers you do not drink. nt

[Codeine]

69. Oops. Missed that part of the thread.

Looks like you don't drink with her anymore, either.

[kevinbgoode1]

82. I'm the same way!

I do, on occasion, send a few gifts, mostly my elderly mom and a very young niece and nephew.

But I learned years ago, when my then-partner would fly home for the holiday (and I would be left alone - back then the same-sex couple thang wasn't "acceptable&quot to make my own holiday. Even though we've been apart for over a decade, I still prefer spending the holiday alone. Peace and quiet, a good book, a nice meal at home, a good movie on television.

One of my best memories was spending most of the day in my PJs in bed - eating a French Silk Pie right out of the pan and alternating between watching the TV and chatting with online buds who were also alone. I had never eaten food in bed before and found it quite a celebratory liberation.

[Rex]

79. So then you won the War on Christmas!

[RB TexLa]

88. I'll celebrate Christmas, I'll got to midnight mass on Christmas eve and probably not go into

work till the afternoon.

[CreekDog]

96. why go to Mass?

the point of mass is the opposite of celebrating only caring about yourself.

[RB TexLa]

98. I haven't said I only care about myself. You had to make that up, didn't come from me.

[mentalsolstice]

84. No homeless children, abused women, elderly persons without family...

No one you can buy a gift for? Are you giving the money you don't have to spend on "family" to those in need? For me giving a gift to a loved one or to an anonymous person in need makes me feel human.

[MineralMan]

97. I just finished wrapping a bunch of those.

I don't mind, though.