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TlalocW

(15,371 posts)
55. Yeah, this is a tough year
Mon Dec 17, 2018, 04:33 AM
Dec 2018

Like you say, I'm not depressed. Just not feeling it this year. And I am listening exclusively to the three Xmas stations; I'm a balloon twister so I'm making lots of Santas and Rudolphs at the parties I'm hired at and wearing my Christmas vests. Part of it is I'm in a crappy apartment that I moved into after my rental house flooded from a burst pipe expecting to start looking to buy a house, but I keep putting that off so I'm not trying out Christmas recipes because of the small kitchen (and I don't trust my oven - not just to cook right but not to kill me). Mom passed almost 4 years ago, and I miss her, and she was what got the family together. After she passed, two of my siblings and I decided to give the other one a break because her family's house was always used to get together, and we thought they would like to have some quieter Christmases after decades of hosting, but now it's kind of entered that phase where it would be nice to get together again, but we don't want to "invite ourselves" or put anyone in the position of saying no because they might already have plans. Then there's the whole Trump thing.

And I miss snow. We had a blizzard a few weeks ago, but the snow didn't stick around long. I know it's a pain, but my best memories of Christmas always had snow. Two of my favorite memories: First, brother and I were still young enough for games. We lived in a small farming community on the edge of town on an acre lot so we had a huge front yard. My brother and I were playing with one of the games we got that morning in front of the big picture window which faced west. The sun was going down so it was casting shadows and giving the snow a blue-ish tint, when two of the horses from next door galloped diagonally across the yard, happy to have escaped their confines and shaking their manes and kicking up snow. It was a catch-your-breath moment... Then Dad told us to get our coats on because we needed to go corral them.

Second when I was in middle and high school, brother and I were paperboys. We had mo-peds with large chicken-wire baskets on the back of them that we used to throw papers at 3 in the morning. We would get nice tips from our customers - especially the older ladies who would give us baked goods. But I always looked forward to delivering on Christmas morning. After my brother and I split up on the streets to head to our different routes, it felt like I was the only one in town awake, and it was just so still especially if there was snow on the ground, and everyone would leave their lights on instead of turn them off. My route ended in a newer, richer part of town, and the lights were amazing. A few years, after I had delivered my papers, I stayed out an extra hour and drove around the rest of the town to see the rest of the lights. I would almost describe it as magical.

TlalocW

Been like that for me for the last couple of years. I feel ya..n/t monmouth4 Dec 2018 #1
Me too... hlthe2b Dec 2018 #5
To a degree. Myriad reasons... NRaleighLiberal Dec 2018 #2
Can I kiss you for knowing how to use "myriad"? nolabear Dec 2018 #13
I accept that kiss gladly and with a big grin! NRaleighLiberal Dec 2018 #21
I didn't see my family for Chanukah. That's more about my depression mucifer Dec 2018 #3
I'm a little bit more cheerful on account of the events of the last couple of weeks The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2018 #4
Me but violetpastille Dec 2018 #6
I would love to see a church based on the Beatitudes - only harumph Dec 2018 #9
Try Friends/Quakers Ms. Toad Dec 2018 #12
Me as well! violetpastille Dec 2018 #14
Right there with you. Drahthaardogs Dec 2018 #7
for over 60 years, I have always looked forward to New Years safeinOhio Dec 2018 #8
Well that's just odd. I understand where you're coming from ProudLib72 Dec 2018 #18
Yup - but from a different source. Ms. Toad Dec 2018 #10
Yeah, I still decorate a real tree and put up a few seasonal things... Guilded Lilly Dec 2018 #11
When your family sucks, Christmas sucks. nt UniteFightBack Dec 2018 #15
+1 LuckyCharms Dec 2018 #20
Better this year than past 2 years MaryMagdaline Dec 2018 #16
Plus one. If the dems hadn't taken back the house.. Demovictory9 Dec 2018 #50
yeah... FirstLight Dec 2018 #17
Absolutely no decorations here. n/t LuckyCharms Dec 2018 #19
definitely not rownesheck Dec 2018 #22
read truman Capote's christmas memory JI7 Dec 2018 #23
I bring out what for me are the holiday books and read a few... Hekate Dec 2018 #43
Me either... HipChick Dec 2018 #24
Oddly, I have more spirit this year than usual. Adrahil Dec 2018 #25
I felt that way at Halloween this year also kimbutgar Dec 2018 #26
I love Christmas and am enjoying the heck of the season so far. WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2018 #27
Have been reading Al Franken's "Giant of the Senate" to cheer me up. spooky3 Dec 2018 #28
Never liked it, even as a child. It was way too commercial. Blue_true Dec 2018 #29
So... Xolodno Dec 2018 #30
omg.. life can give us lemons, can't it! halobeam Dec 2018 #41
My gods, Xolodno Hekate Dec 2018 #44
Omg Demovictory9 Dec 2018 #52
I used to be really excited for Christmas. Doreen Dec 2018 #31
I hear you mvd Dec 2018 #32
I am feeling very down this season TheCatQueen Dec 2018 #33
Get a small xmass tree. A real one. They come with a stand. Buy some tiny little lights. Decorate it applegrove Dec 2018 #34
You're not alone. Glamrock Dec 2018 #35
I'm too busy oswaldactedalone Dec 2018 #36
I've had a couple of shocks lately and between trump and the demigoddess Dec 2018 #37
The music on the radio is more of an escape this year than in years passed because of Trump Quixote1818 Dec 2018 #38
Same here, definitely not in the Christmas spirit. At all. chia Dec 2018 #39
We do a holiday party every year that helps. Liberty Belle Dec 2018 #40
Waaaay better this year in my family. Grandbaby survived being a preemie. We survived the fires. And Hekate Dec 2018 #42
That's wonderful news, Hekate! pnwmom Dec 2018 #45
Here's to a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year for all... Hekate Dec 2018 #57
It comes too fast Raine Dec 2018 #46
My Mom died Thanksgiving morning. Maru Kitteh Dec 2018 #47
So sorry. Yes that would be rough. applegrove Dec 2018 #48
Thank you, AG. Maru Kitteh Dec 2018 #49
Awe. You are lucky to have had such a good long time with her. And she, you. applegrove Dec 2018 #53
How sad malaise Dec 2018 #54
So sorry dembotoz Dec 2018 #51
I am so sorry, Maru Kitteh. pnwmom Dec 2018 #59
Yeah, this is a tough year TlalocW Dec 2018 #55
Loving it this year malaise Dec 2018 #56
haven't "felt" Christmas since I was 6 years old. Mr. Quackers Dec 2018 #58
I will feel more Christmasy when some Trumps get indicted. pnwmom Dec 2018 #60
It's going to be great Winter Solstice though eShirl Dec 2018 #61
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