Holiday Stress and Christmas Traditions

Man, that makes me miss my grandparents so much. We’d go to my maternal grandparents on the 23rd, and then Christmas Eve it was on! We were watching old OLD Christmas movies, eating our Christmas lunch with our cousins we only saw on holidays… Then, that night we’d open presents. My mom is gone now, and so are my grandparents and uncle (not a great loss on him). But it’s still a good Christmas; it’s just different. Christmas Day, even as a baby, we go to my dad’s side for the holiday. His huge family has a big potluck, and we all visit for a few hours. After my sister got married and “had” (adopted) kids we started going to her house Christmas morning to open our presents, and then we head to my dad’s family for lunch. We used to meet at a Tulsa community center, but now we meet at the church some of our family members attend. It’s actually the church my dad was a youth pastor at 50 years ago. My primary stress this year was finding tissue paper. Shouldn’t be a problem, right? Well, I couldn’t afford to waste money buying it when I KNEW I had some. I had gotten to where I was thinking I was going to hand people their gifts in plain gift bags with no tissue paper. It would be a very unceremonious present for everyone. But finally, yesterday, I found it! The four different colors of tissue paper had been found. Stress over! Merry Christmas, my friend!

For me it's just "that time of year." It's a bit of a double-edged sword for me. I like getting together with family, but it always seems like a time that is more busy and of course, can be more expensive. Even if I have means, it doesn't mean I want to part with it. And I find most gifts are mostly garbage that are senseless and pointless. I know, I know. It's the thought that counts, right? lol. I'd like to give thought that I'd rather count my money and forget about crap I don't need or that anyone else doesn't need either. It is what it is. My wife points to me every time "The Grinch" theme comes on and says, "That's your song." This year we didn't decorate outside and only nominally decorated inside. To be fair, this year my health is a bit on the downside (nothing too serious). Just not quite myself. It's put an even bigger damper on things for me, unfortunately, and I am doing my best not to drag anyone else down with me. Luckily, I am able to put on a good "pretend" happy face. lol

Being alone I now just remember why there is Christmas, watch some movies, and make it a regular week for me,