Reluctant Christmas Cheer?

fureverywhere

fureverywhere

beloved friend who will always be with us in spiri
Location
Northern NJ, USA
Not a lot of money, splintered family, hubby and Dad in decline. Fuss fuss, Whine whine...but tonight I went to Target with daughter. Funny how the holiday spirit can creep in there. Maybe less gifting but more meaningful nonetheless. I enjoy holiday shopping. A gift bag for son and family...nice slippers for him, PJ set for his wife, a cat stuffy for Mr. Baby oh and a nutcracker. Something my son loved as a kid, a new decoration for them.

Really in my head I could hear Burl Ives singing "Holly Jolly Christmas". I can still find the joy, YAAAYYY
 

I don't get into Christmas much since I was a kid, but this time of year I will find myself singing or humming some popular Christmas Carols. There are days when I feel more Christmasy and cheerful, especially if snow if falling and I'm walking outdoors. Not so much in crowded stores or driving in holiday traffic. You have a lot of nice family to shop for Fur, enjoy the season! :christmas1:
 
fureverywhere said:
Not a lot of money, splintered family, hubby and Dad in decline. Fuss fuss, Whine whine...but tonight I went to Target with daughter. Funny how the holiday spirit can creep in there. Maybe less gifting but more meaningful nonetheless. I enjoy holiday shopping. A gift bag for son and family...nice slippers for him, PJ set for his wife, a cat stuffy for Mr. Baby oh and a nutcracker. Something my son loved as a kid, a new decoration for them.

Really in my head I could hear Burl Ives singing "Holly Jolly Christmas". I can still find the joy, YAAAYYY
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Good for you!
 

Mixed feelings for me also. Happy Philly should be home soon, looking forward to our first xmas together, even long distance, sad that my son is becoming such a class whore. Eek, hard to say, but one of my strengths is I don't lie to myself. In his eyes, I will never be the fantasy mom he wanted. Breathe out, let go, and smile....lol. Happy holidays!
 
I actually have a Christmas phobia.

It has eased now I am older but when I was younger I was fighting suicide every year.

I used to volunteer for duty so that I could shit myself away.

I had to face up to it once married with a family (who to this gay know nothing of it) but it has always been a major trial.

While the cold sweats and mortal dread have gone, I still get that familiar knot in my stomach come October time and all the glittery bits start to appear.

Now I'm alone I have to keep lying to all those kind people who invite me to join their jollitiesm and tell them I'm all organised (I am, bit not in the sense they think)/

Don't get me wrong. I am a Christian and love the symbolism of Christmas, a broadcast carol service is very much part of my day, in fact it's my faith that sees me through. I've already had three Christmas lunches and am should get a dozen more as I make the rounds of my local restaurants checking out their festive lunches. It's just that it has this unfortunate physical (or more probably mental,) effect on me.
 
Laurie said:
I actually have a Christmas phobia.

It has eased now I am older but when I was younger I was fighting suicide every year.

I used to volunteer for duty so that I could shit myself away.

I had to face up to it once married with a family (who to this gay know nothing of it) but it has always been a major trial.

While the cold sweats and mortal dread have gone, I still get that familiar knot in my stomach come October time and all the glittery bits start to appear.

Now I'm alone I have to keep lying to all those kind people who invite me to join their jollitiesm and tell them I'm all organised (I am, bit not in the sense they think)/

Don't get me wrong. I am a Christian and love the symbolism of Christmas, a broadcast carol service is very much part of my day, in fact it's my faith that sees me through. I've already had three Christmas lunches and am should get a dozen more as I make the rounds of my local restaurants checking out their festive lunches. It's just that it has this unfortunate physical (or more probably mental,) effect on me.
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Have we been properly introduced yet? If so, big hugs. You are brave indeed, Laurie.
 
<<<HUGS>>>Laurie, holidays can be dreadful indeed...I actually walk a full circle rather than pass by a frickin' Hallmark store. I was raised Christian but gave that up some time ago. But just something silly that still connects me to when I was a kid is the Rudolph Christmas program
 
The holidays stress/depress me out, from back when my son and daughter were kids, and my ex would find ways to make visitation difficult and/or impossible.

I don't dwell on the past, by the way, but I think that some wounds never heal completely.
 
I don't know why, but I give lousy gifts. When I think of someone, I know exactly what to get them. And every time, that person unwraps the gift, they all get that "what-the-hell-is-thing" look. When you have to explain your gift with charts and diagrams, it sort of takes away from the Chritmassy thing.
 
I have major mood swings this time of year. I usually avoid crowds but walking through a mall with the music playing and seeing all the shoppers buying gifts cheers me up. I also enjoy seeing the neighborhood homes decorated and stuff like our local zoo being lit up with Christmas lights at night time. However watching just a snippet of a show like Rudolph or seeing an old clip of Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" instantly takes me back to my childhood and I can start feeling dust in my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I have great childhood memories of Christmas but thinking of those vivid memories for some reason brings me down.
 
As you have a Welsh Dad we're almost kin so I guess it's OK!

My family hails from Berwick Upon Tweed, they say it's in the LowLands I have no idea...
 
I also find the holidays very depressing.

Maybe I'll try to find a way to enjoy it a little more this year. I am a Lutheran and cherish the religious significance of Christmas, but not all the secular hoo-ha. Back when I had a famiy and kids at home, it was a different story.
 
Once we stopped exchanging presents within the extended family, my outlook on Christmas got a lot better. Now I only have to buy for the kids. Before, it was "oh, what the hell do I get for that a$$hole my daughter/sister/cousin is married to/engaged to/living with". It's really hard to get in the mood for shopping when you're shopping for someone you don't like. One year we decided to just draw names out of a hat for a gift exchange and sure 'nuff, I got the brother-in-law I liked the least......and believe me, some of my sisters and other relatives have picked some doozies.

Now, it's a lot of fun cruising the toy aisles. There are only three young'uns and two older ones. The two older ones get things like friendship bracelet kits and other craft items and the toddlers and babies get toys. Snick, snee and it's over with.
 
The worst Christmas evah? I didn't realize brother and his family were re-gifting crap from job clients. I could almost hear DIL gasp audibly. I was giving them stuff from the heart. From that year after the wee ones only. I am his only sibling. Would a B and N giftcard be so impossible? The two remaining kids $20 Target gift cards each? Not that hard at all.
 
For most of us Christmas is no longer a happy and merry holiday, also it is not for me. I'd rather stay at home, even on my own, but I don't want to hurt my sons, so after spending Xmas Eve and Xmas Day here with my older son, I'm going with him to Krakow to my younger son for a few days. I must start shopping for presents, but at last, I've got an idea what to buy them.:)
 
My absolute favorite day of the year? December 26th-because it`s the longest time til the next Christmas. I think I just burned out on it when the kids were little. Still love the family gathering part-even if I am the one food shopping and cooking that year-but all the rest of it,not a fan.
 
For me the challenge is the reduced daylight hours rather than the holidays with sunset before 4 pm now. Being retired now I can get outside every day on my own schedule while it's still daytime and get my cells lit up. I live in a town that has a beautiful, walkable downtown that's decorated nicely during the holiday, so there's a nice feeling walking there when it's lightly snowing. I used to feel crushing expectations about the holidays, so I stopped celebrating it about 15 years ago with the attitude of my life, my holidays, my way. The relief was immense. I do send gifts to my son and his family though, but the rest is decidedly non-holiday.
 
Halloween has become my favorite holiday, costumes and candy and silly decorations. But I still feel good when I find the perfect gift for somebody who will appreciate it. For instance I had B and N coupons for 20% off. I'm also a member so another discount. Plus the book was now on sale. It was $70 when it first came out. All the discounts and it came out to $40. But then I checked out their re-sale site...like new for twenty five bucks. The perfect gift for friend's partner and I know he'll read it cover to cover. That's a nice feeling:eek:nthego:
 
I have to control myself lest I get the Xmas spirit too early and have it peter out by Christmas. Other than that I love everything involved with it. I am an atheist but I love the Xmas music end up singing along in stores. I try to avoid stores in the last week before Xmas, I mean Hey people Christmas comes every year at this time and some act like it is a surprise that snuck up on them at the last minute!

My father was one of those who hated Christmas, he tried his darnedest to ruin it for me every year however the rest of my family would make sure I had a nice Christmas.
 
Not really in the Christmas spirit yet. Every time I hear Christmas songs on the radio I change the station. I guess I am Bah Humbug right now. I did finish my shopping though and spent more than usual; just thought I'd give everyone something nicer this year.
 
One of my favorites and I'm sure it's on YouTube was a TV show with Ronnie Spector and Dolly Parton singing "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" with reindeer tails.
 
You could say that "Reluctant Xmas Cheer" is a fitting description of the Australian sentiment!
I miss the exuberant house and lawn decorations in Calif.
Also still have not taken to FRUITCAKE and XMAS PUDDING (uggh!!!), prefer homemade cookies (decorated with icing and sprinkles), and STOLLEN (bought), also buy plenty of Xmas gifts for family, friends, and neighbors.
 
Maybe I'll try to find a way to enjoy it a little more this year. I am a Lutheran and cherish the religious significance of Christmas, but not all the secular hoo-ha. Back when I had a famiy and kids at home, it was a different story.[/QUOTE]Fureverywhere
Your comment has inspired me to visit the small Lutheran church in the centre of Melbourne either Xmas Eve or Christmas Day!
 

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