Some seniors seem to find little joy in holidays.
- Thread starter Ralphy1
- Start date
QuickSilver
SF VIP
- Location
- Midwest
Yes.. for sure... it's become an obligation. If it wasn't for the grand kids I wouldn't even bother.
jujube
SF VIP
I am definitely looking forward to Christmas this year. It will be the first Christmas in four years I'm not (at least I HOPE I'm not) taking care of someone during that time. My mom is, as you say....finished....with Christmas and likes to schedule her surgeries for that time. So for two years, I was being her nurse during the holiday season. Last year, we went to visit the boyfriend's mom for Christmas and we hadn't been there for four hours until the ambulance had to be called. The rest of the visit was her in the hospital, out of the hospital, back in the hospital, midnight visits to the emergency room, etc. Finally, I flew home Christmas afternoon, so I celebrated Christmas with a lengthy layover at the Atlanta airport with a thousand of my new-found friends.
This year, there's going to be a tree. It's going up early. And there will be cookies. And maybe I'll have a party. I'm going to go see the Christmas decorations. I'll probably wander around the mall listening to Barry Manilow singing "White Christmas" without wanting to throw up. I can't wait.
This year, there's going to be a tree. It's going up early. And there will be cookies. And maybe I'll have a party. I'm going to go see the Christmas decorations. I'll probably wander around the mall listening to Barry Manilow singing "White Christmas" without wanting to throw up. I can't wait.
Bullie76
Member
- Location
- Mississippi
I can do w/o them. But I don't dread the Holidays either. Just get through them.
Jackie22
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northeast Texas
In my situation, the cycle that "Christmas at Grandma's" needs to be broken, and this just might be the year.
Underock1
Senior Member
- Location
- Suburban NJ
The problem is that over time it keeps getting more elaborate. More decorations are bought, more little traditions get added until you crumple under the weight. Our house is small so big Christmas moved to my sons. Almost no one was coming over anymore. We gave up the tree about three years ago, and cut back a lot of the decorating. We have a number of meaningful ornaments, like the wishbone from our wedding turkey that we hung on the fireplace. I lost my wife this year, so its going to be tough. I feel compelled to continue to put out a few things that meant a lot to us, and I will probably decorate our entry way for the neighbor's benefit, but I'm done with the lights!
:bounce:
:bounce:
QuickSilver
SF VIP
- Location
- Midwest
We have cut back on decorations. Our huge tree has been replaced with a 3 foot table top model.. and outside all we have is a lighted wreath by the door.. Sometimes less is more... know what I mean?
Davey Jones
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
If you live with kids like I do there is no good way to get away from Xmas.
Falcon
DV8
- Location
- So. California
When the kids were little I (we) did ALL that stuff. Thrroughout the years it has gradually diminished until now
all I do is go to the bank and get a few of their nicest $100 bills and a few X-mas cards from the card shop.
I get no complaints from anyone and wish everyone a "Merry Christmas" regardless of their religion.
Still no complaints from anyone.
After all Christmas is a religious holiday and you know me.
all I do is go to the bank and get a few of their nicest $100 bills and a few X-mas cards from the card shop.
I get no complaints from anyone and wish everyone a "Merry Christmas" regardless of their religion.
Still no complaints from anyone.
After all Christmas is a religious holiday and you know me.
boozercruiser
Senior Member
- Location
- Rhos On Sea. North Wales. UK.
Not us Ralphy1!
My Wife and I usually go on a coach holiday here in the UK called Shearings, around 4 times a year in England or Scotland.
http://www.shearings.com/our-holidays
Coach Holidays, Escorted Tours, Holidays by Air, Cruises and Self Drive Hotel Breaks
We catch the coach around 10 minute walk away, and sit on the coach, and that's it!
Lubbly Jubbly
My Wife and I usually go on a coach holiday here in the UK called Shearings, around 4 times a year in England or Scotland.
http://www.shearings.com/our-holidays
Coach Holidays, Escorted Tours, Holidays by Air, Cruises and Self Drive Hotel Breaks
We catch the coach around 10 minute walk away, and sit on the coach, and that's it!
Lubbly Jubbly
Linda
Senior Member
- Location
- Central California foothills
Your posts are so fun to read, I love your sense of humor. As for spending Christmas in the Atlanta airport with a thousand of your new-found friends, I can imagine that as I've been there a couple times ( not on a holiday though) I think your Christmas this year will be a lot nicer.
Linda
Senior Member
- Location
- Central California foothills
I don't know how I'll feel at Christmas but I have a feeling it won't mean much to me. Our grand kids are all in their 20s so I give them a card and cash. One grandchild is 8 and we mail her gifts. 2 years ago I had fun with a small log house that I fixed up with snow and little trees and a tiny old wooden doll I had bought in a second hand store in Sweden and I fixed little presents and little lights and all that. I think only one grandchild saw it in person but everyone else told me they liked the pics of it. Then the next year I just didn't have the energy to fool with it so I put up a tiny tree we have. Maybe I'll go with the log cabin or have the tree but right now doing nothing sounds pretty good to me.
I have a theory which might be about as intelligent as most of my theories but here goes. As the human body starts to gradually shut down days, weeks or even months before death ---- I wonder if emotionally we start to shut down as we grow older and get ready to leave this earth? Stay home more, not get as excited about cooking or trying new foods, not get as involved in kids and grand kid's lives, not as interested in getting new cloths or jewelry, not getting dressed up to go to dinner or weddings or whatever. Do you know anyone like that??
I have a theory which might be about as intelligent as most of my theories but here goes. As the human body starts to gradually shut down days, weeks or even months before death ---- I wonder if emotionally we start to shut down as we grow older and get ready to leave this earth? Stay home more, not get as excited about cooking or trying new foods, not get as involved in kids and grand kid's lives, not as interested in getting new cloths or jewelry, not getting dressed up to go to dinner or weddings or whatever. Do you know anyone like that??
Same here Bullie. We don't have kids/grandkids, so there's not a big to-do, small plug in ceramic tree, send and receive some cards, and maybe make a special meal that day.
fureverywhere
beloved friend who will always be with us in spiri
- Location
- Northern NJ, USA
I still enjoy putting up a tree and setting out the menorah. Hey, we're covered on all fronts. Some of the ornaments are from great great grandparents, such memories. Christmas day is always at my niece's house. This year will include a two year old nephew and two new grandbabies. It's going to be jumping!
Underock1
Senior Member
- Location
- Suburban NJ
Yes. The guy who is typing this. I remember my Mom at her 88th birthday party. It was a big deal for every one, and Mom was going through the motions, but I could see from her expressions she just wanted everyone to go home so she could take a nap. I live alone now, and have been invited to a few family gatherings. I am finding more and more reasons to not attend. Would love to see the people, but it just takes too much energy. I really need my environment just to get through the day.
Butterfly
SF VIP
- Location
- Albuquerque, New Mexico USA
I don't do a whole lot for the holidays. In some ways, I find them a difficult time. With very little family left, the holidays lose a lot of their glitter. I always go midnight mass on Christmas eve and drive around looking at the Christmas lights and luminarias, and that's about it. I may put up a few outside lights myself this year.
Underock1
Senior Member
- Location
- Suburban NJ
Yes. The guy who is typing this. I remember my Mom at her 88th birthday party. It was a big deal for every one, and Mom was going through the motions, but I could see from her expressions she just wanted everyone to go home so she could take a nap. I live alone now, and have been invited to a few family gatherings. I am finding more and more reasons not to attend. Would love to see the people, but it just takes too much energy. I really need my own environment just to get through the day. I agree with you. Its not such a bad thing. When its time to go, your ready to go.
No. I'm not depressed. Just accepting reality. :excited: See? Not dead yet.
I could do without TDay and Xmas but unfortunately ....I'm the hostess!!! There's just no way out for me, so I'll have to grin and bear it and find something pleasurable about the whole thing.
Pets can make it fun. I love the way the wrap themselves up in the discarded gift paper.
Pets can make it fun. I love the way the wrap themselves up in the discarded gift paper.
We will more than likely spend Christmas on our own this year , and that's the way I prefer it to be last year and the year before I went to allot of trouble to make Christmas nice for new daughter in law who had recently moved to Aus , I mentioned we would come to their place this year after I cooked, cleaned for them for two years running .. But they would rather come to me ,no way would I consider them living in my home again ...it's a big job I'd prefer not to do again so I said NO .... Visitors this year . It my sound mean but we hubby and I were left to clean the mess the kids made , wash the linen they used for two adults 2 little children ..:eewwk::eewwk:
it's a big job I'd prefer not to do again so I said NO .... Visitors this year . It my sound mean but we hubby and I were left to clean the mess the kids made , wash the linen they used for two adults 2 little children ..:eewwk::eewwk:
Rocky
Member
- Location
- Austin, Texas
Linda, you have a good theory about shutting down in advance of the inevitable except for the food...
Agreed!
I was always a calorie-counter. Loved food, but religiously noted calories and once to a certain level -- nothing more reached my stomach.
Stayed slim and trim.
Now? To h*ll with diets. I still love food. I love trying new recipes and sharing the products of my kitchen with neighbors & friends [ that also shares calories a bit, too, y'know!
].Not slim and trim anymore and happily chowing down! :coolthumb:
As for holidays -- don't have a tree these days, but do decorate for Christmas. I was able to pass on the big holiday family dinners a couple years ago and am ecstatic about that!!