Quote from: Constance on December 02, 2012, 09:57:29 AM
For many years we had a three foot fake tree that was so realistic, it shed. By the end of its days it was nearly a Charlie Brown tree.

Our very first tree was something my son made in preschool. We had a very small apartment back then and really couldn't afford a tree. But his class took pine cones, painted them green, and glued them into Styrofoam cups. There was even a little puff-ball thing on the top as a star, and it had been sprinkled with glitter before the paint dried.

Aww, so cute!

We got this tree for $20 about 9 years ago. While in the military we did not make enough to afford a real tree. It has done very good for $20.

Here's a poem Cindy to commemorate the season.
If I'm sane and walking, friends like you are the reason.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER,
by Madeline B
12/2/2012

I'm working sixty hours a week
   without any extra pay
The work load is enormous
   and gets greater ever day
My little birdie done left me
   and is freezing in some tree
When I should be cleaning
   I sit here frozen with PTSD
I'm married to my best friend
   but we'll be unmarried soon
I promised her the sun and stars
  but became her feminine moon
Most of my friends are busy
   and live oh so far from here
I see them on the internets
   and they give me welcome cheer
I could just get in the car
   and go see them of course
though I'll probably lose it
   when I get the divorce
I've still got parts I do not like
   and other parts that are new
I would put the cart before the horse
   but my horse transitioned too
I'm still a little thin on top
   ok, I'm a bald chick
And my middle isn't thin at all
   its positively thick

So why is this without a doubt
   the best Christmas ever by far?
It's not because I'm filled with joy;
   my heart feels like one big scar.
It's not because my life is perfect;
   I can point out all the flaws.
And I don't expect great presents,
   or even a visit from Santa Claus.
But I've received a better gift
   than was ever beneath a tree--
I've lost an awful lot this year,
   but what I have gained IS ME.
For this, I am so grateful.
   My heart at last is free.
All holiday trimmings are optional.
  I love myself, you see.

Oh Maddie...that is beautiful! That is definitely the BEST gift of all! To bee yourself!

*hugs*

John Lennon said it best.

Happy Pearl Harbor Day everybody! That means only 18 days until the Christmas season has been enjoyed or survived or both! Tora Tora Tannenbaum. 

Happy Anniversary of the US Joining WW2 Day, everybody!

Love this song.



I don't celebrate Christmas since I'm an atheist.  However, I would still like to see my dad.

Loved the Christmas poem Madeline.  Awesome.

Yes, nicely done, Madeline! Hugs, Devlyn

Call me a Scrooge, but I can't wait for mulchfest! People gather old Christmas trees, and then we get to throw them in a wood chipper and spread the mulch around the public parks!   

Sorry about all of the emoticons, but I'm overflowing with my own demented version of Christmas spirit. 

Quote from: DianaP on December 07, 2012, 11:12:56 PM
I don't celebrate Christmas since I'm an atheist. 

That's why I'm choosing to celebrate the new Doctor Who companion

I just sent out that poem as my Christmas message to my family members (of the genetic kind) and added the following verse:

I feel great, and grateful too
that I get to share my life and days
with a most amazing family
that I love in so many ways.

This of course applies equally to my family here at Susan's.

DOWNER ALERT...

OK, I hate, detest and loathe Christmas. I dislike feeling obligated to send & receive gifts; it makes me very anxious. But the real reason why I hate it is... Christmas 1994. My mother had been suffering from breast cancer for 8 years and had just come out of hospital, where it was patently obvious that she was on her last legs. Heck, the nurses were being very sweet to her... and they're never sweet to you unless you're about to kick the bucket.

Knowing that she'd probably never see Christmas again, she decided that she didn't want to put up a Christmas tree because it would be too painful for her to see it. My youngest brother was 11 at the time so I decided to make some concessions for him. I bought two pieces of tinsel in my mother's favourite colour, draped them around a pot plant, and stuck his presents under that. Ever since then, Christmas has been tinged with sadness because I associate it with losing my mother.

She died less than a month later, aged just 48.

Christmas (and January) is my least favourite time of the year and to be honest, I can't wait until it all just goes away. Roll on February!

(Then again... February is my soon-to-be-ex wedding anniversary, so I'll soon be saying 'roll on March!')

Bah! Humbug!

One of our pals got Himself the Avengers movie. It was possibly the most consciously self-referential movie I've ever seen outside of spoofs.

And there wasn't nearly enough Mark Ruffalo.

My folks have gotten us a shower curtain, and given us money towards our new swordfighting gloves.

Himself has gotten me a ruby Trollbead, and for him, I backed a Kickstarter for a cool art book that I think he'll like.

Quote from: FTMDiaries on December 10, 2012, 10:47:30 AM
DOWNER ALERT...

OK, I hate, detest and loathe Christmas. I dislike feeling obligated to send & receive gifts; it makes me very anxious. But the real reason why I hate it is... Christmas 1994. My mother had been suffering from breast cancer for 8 years and had just come out of hospital, where it was patently obvious that she was on her last legs. Heck, the nurses were being very sweet to her... and they're never sweet to you unless you're about to kick the bucket.

Knowing that she'd probably never see Christmas again, she decided that she didn't want to put up a Christmas tree because it would be too painful for her to see it. My youngest brother was 11 at the time so I decided to make some concessions for him. I bought two pieces of tinsel in my mother's favourite colour, draped them around a pot plant, and stuck his presents under that. Ever since then, Christmas has been tinged with sadness because I associate it with losing my mother.

She died less than a month later, aged just 48.

Christmas (and January) is my least favourite time of the year and to be honest, I can't wait until it all just goes away. Roll on February!

(Then again... February is my soon-to-be-ex wedding anniversary, so I'll soon be saying 'roll on March!')

Bah! Humbug!

*big hug*

Quote from: FTMDiaries on December 10, 2012, 10:47:30 AM
....
Ever since then, Christmas has been tinged with sadness because I associate it with losing my mother.

She died less than a month later, aged just 48.

Christmas (and January) is my least favourite time of the year and to be honest, I can't wait until it all just goes away. Roll on February!

(Then again... February is my soon-to-be-ex wedding anniversary, so I'll soon be saying 'roll on March!')

Bah! Humbug!

So sorry you lost your Mom, FTM. Any time of year, at any age, that's as big a heartache as they come. You have a lifetime pass for skipping Christmas, no humbug involved, if you need to.

I don't know if this would help any, since in our culture we're taught to mourn quietly for a short period and then pretend for the rest of our life like our heart is not broken, but my experience is that other cultures know how to handle grief, loss of family, and the holidays with greater wisdom and compassion than ours does.

When I was in Korea for two years, I was fortunate enough to spend all of their holidays with local families and to participate in their traditions and rituals. One thing I found marvelous was that they do not lock away memory of those they have lost, or pretend not to think about their losses on the traditional days for families to gather. Instead, wherever they are, with family or observing alone, they will set out a plate or a glass with their loved ones favorite food or spirit, and turn to the empty seat, and offer their blessings, thanks, and wishes to their loved one. You can feel the love as the living hold each other and remember with tears and hugs the departed. Only then, when the departed have been honored and invited to participate fully in the festivities, and any grief expressed, do the happy times proceed, often while discussing without embarrassment anecdotes or memories from the life of the one in the "empty" seat that doesn't feel empty any more.

Much love this season and always. You do not grieve alone.

Thanks Madeline! That's a very heartwarming story - what a wonderful way to remember their loved ones.

My brothers & I tend to do little things on Mum's birthday every year (which just happens to be halfway between Christmas and the anniversary of her death). On what would've been her 60th birthday, my elder brother & I each published long blog posts about our fondest memories of her, which was really great because we reminded each other of things we'd forgotten.

Despite how I feel about the season, I've always made a huge effort to make it a special day for my kids. And I must be doing something right, because it's their favourite holiday.

Quote from: FTMDiaries on December 11, 2012, 08:20:01 AM
My brothers & I tend to do little things on Mum's birthday every year (which just happens to be halfway between Christmas and the anniversary of her death). On what would've been her 60th birthday, my elder brother & I each published long blog posts about our fondest memories of her, which was really great because we reminded each other of things we'd forgotten.

Despite how I feel about the season, I've always made a huge effort to make it a special day for my kids. And I must be doing something right, because it's their favourite holiday.

I'm glad you and your brothers are able to do that.

I get a good picture thinking of you and your kids in the middle of a happy Christmas hullaballoo.

    Hi,
     Yes it is christmas again, and I think I am starting  to dislike it, One truly way I miss
    it,is my wife whom I miss so much, with out her it does not mean that much to me.
     They say time heals, that it is a bounch of bull, time never heals/ Sometimes I think
    is it all worth it. I really believe that the only thing that keeps me going is my
    kids, and grandson, maybe it is the hormones I do not know, but I hate living
    this way.
     But to everyone out there, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year]

    Hugs, Janis

Quote from: MadelineB on December 11, 2012, 08:47:43 AM
I get a good picture thinking of you and your kids in the middle of a happy Christmas hullaballoo.

Oh, you've got that right. I was always the one sat on the floor for hours, trying to get the latest Barbie out of its packaging for my eldest.

What a weekend. All the shops full of people, mostly with screaming kids in tow, and strollers as far as the eyes can see!

Get me out of this... Humbug.

Most with their heads down looking at the darn phones, not looking where they are going and going at half pace and getting in others way.
Annoying Xmas carols blaring over the speakers in the shops and it's 100 degrees outside as I fight my way to the next shop.

The smell of flesh burning as I brand myself Bah Humbug.

People not waiting their turn to be served and pushing in.
Not enough staff to serve.
Items your looking for sold out
Steam rising from my ears in frustration.

The smell of flesh burning again as I brand myself Bah Humbug.

Food places packed and nowhere to sit. More steam rising.

Idea!
Go to work and shop from there as it's close by.
Pressure easing, people dissipating.

Shopping done on line, no crowds, no waiting.
Feel much better.

Still there is the smell of freshly burnt flesh

Humbug to one and all.

Thanks that Xmas only is once a year.