Holiday Blues

[Skidmore]

Today I dragged myself into the city to do some Christmas shopping for the grandkids. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't even have put up the tree this year. It's been a bad year all around, with deaths in the family, health problems, financial worries, things always needing repair, and uncertainty about whether my job will be around for the entirety of next year. YOu get the picture--oh, yeah, the war and election. How could I forget those highlights? Everywhere I went people did not seem very cheerful or in a holiday spirit. Remarks about how this year was just a bad one and how hard it was to find a sense of cheer for the season were repeated to me over and over again by salespeople, fellow customers, and passers-by. Sometimes these remarks were accompanied by a brief recounting of worrisome or sorrowful events of the past year and the sense that things weren't going to improve in the near future. I actually crossed the threshold of a Wallyworld. One of the associates told me of her woes. She was barely making ends meet. She lives with her daughter and her grandchild this year and both of them are trying to keep a roof over their heads. Up until the middle of the past year, she had been a farm wife. Her husband was diagnosed with lung cancer and died within a couple of months of the diagnosis. She had to sell the farm to pay the business debt and settle the estate. During the year she had also lost both parents, buried aunts and uncles, lost a 20-month old granddaughter, and was now working for minimum wage in Wallyworld. She had tears in her eyes when she told me that she felt that she should be able to work up some Christmas spirit for the sake of her other grandchild, but she just couldn't. The only support she has is from her church and it is sporadic. She clearly was depressed. I listened to her story and felt helpless. I also felt anger that while so many are quibbling over semantics and symbols this season, people like this good woman are silently suffering. Silent night, holy night. All is calm....

[mandyky]

1. I know what you mean

If I didn't have a 7 year old, I doubt I'd even bother with anything Christmas. Finances here are crappy, but my major malfunction is still the election and subsequent events. It is becoming more evident the America I believe in no longer exists.

Personally I try to live the Christmas spirit oo peace on earth, goodwill towards mankind, year 'round. But even American religion has me distressed when it comes to these American Taliban types.

Some days I wonder about my sanity, others I wish to just die and not have to deal with any of this earthly nonsense anymore.

Then I read here on DU about someone who was bullied into saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy holidays, and I just shake my head sadly.

If this is a dream or nightmare, I hope I wake up soon!

[frankly_fedup2]

2. I read an article about how there will be a "Commander and Chief" . . .

inaugural party with 2000 troops invited with their family. The "Defense Department" will be handing out the tickets (the article said). After reading that, I immediately thought, "Well, the generals and colonels and their families will be going to a ball to celebrate the re-e(s)election of this liar. Their will be 30-40 million dollars spent on these "celebrations."

When our troops come home, then they should have the "celebrations." How can they go from ball to ball and celebrate the inauguration of a killer through means of our weaponry.

The Republicant's say the money is private money; however, what about all the security . . .I guess our tax money will pay for that.

I hope you are not alone this Christmas. You never said if your husband was still with you or not.

My husband and I decided we are going on vacation at Christmas. We are not putting up a tree, we are not spending our money on everyone else and end up not having enough money to get each other something. We decided we are going to give ourselves a Christmas present. After 15 years of giving to family who the majority does not return the thought, wears on my nerves. We still buy for the grandson and young nephews,

(my husband is my second husband by marriage and I have a son from my first marriage that he has raised as his own. He knew if he wanted me, I was a packaged deal. He chose that, and has been a wonderful stepfather. My son and his wife had a baby boy last year, first grandchild, first great grandchild on both sides of my daughter-in-law's family as well as ours.

Of course, we all were so thrilled. My mom and dad (great grand-parents) are thrilled to have that almost 2-year-old all the time. However, my mother in law, who by marriage is my grandson's great-grandmother by marriage, and she did not even bother to get the baby a little stuffed animal or something. THAT pissed me off. I shouldn't have been surprised though. None of that side of the family ever bought for my son on Christmas; however, we always provided a Christmas (as far as gifts), for their kids, at times spending more than they actually spent on their kids. Of course, my mother in law has always bought for her full-blooded grandsons.

Last year did it for me. I love to give a gift someone loves. I don't stick to a money limit (well not crazy), but I try to find something I think someone would like. Last year, my husband's mother gave him, me, the other brother and wife that lives off of her, the son that lived with her (he died in February of this year . . . longer story), and mailed a son that lives in another state. I was shocked!!!! Then my husband calls me and his mother into her bedroom. He pulls out his $50 gift and started, "Now mama, I know you cannot afford this, and I want you to take this back. We don't need it. She started crying (always gets her sons), and then SHE TOOK THE GIFT BACK. I could not believe it. SHE TOOK IT BACK. I just looked at both of them and walked out of the room. I decided I was using that $50 to spend on my grandson, her great grandson, that she never bothered to get anything for.

No more. (sorry so long). I've always thought it is better to give than to receive, and it has been at times, but after 15 years of giving and nothing in return (not even a thank you, ever), this Santa Claus has quit. Bah Humbug and all that stuff.