Blue Christmas

Last year I was having a funk for Christmas. I didn't think I "deserved" to have a downer, since I am relatively healthy physically, and don't have any "real" problems. There's baggage from the past, and teenagers, and a sort of loss of purpose...whatever.
Anyway, my eldest (who just left for college, and that probably was influencing me) burned a CD of funny holiday music, including of course, Elvis' Blue Christmas, Santa Baby, Baby It's Cold Outside, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and a rap song whose chorus was "Give up the Dough, Give up the Dough it's Christmas Oh".

I put up blue lights outside too. I tried to take the pressure off to have the typical "old fashioned Christmas" and tried to make fun of myself and my expectations.

I've noticed on several threads people who seem to be feeling blue about Christmas. Of course there is the blu thread that is hysterical, and I personally had a blast on the what do you want from Christmas thread where everyone was donating body parts (or even whole inlaws) to help make a wish come true for one DGer (see http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/559538/). And participating in making that dream come true has certainly cheered me up.

Does anyone else have some ways to lighten holiday expectations that they would share? Or a good laugh??

dmc,,,,

I'm still in for donating the almost outlaws and body fat for models,,,,,would cheer the heck out of me,,,,LOL

Other than that, I have been pretty bummed over the Christmas Holiday's the last couple of years. This SCANACAN for Elaine has really helped this year. Even feel like doin' the decorations this year!

Makes my heart happy to know that there are wonderful people here at DG who don't think only of themselves,,,,THAT IS what Christmas is All about,,,,,IMO,,,,,,,,and that DOES cheer the heck out of me!!!!

Will be telling anyone who will listen about our little Christmas Dream and Hopefully, it will make people remember what Christmas and the Holiday's (whichever one you celebrate) are truly all about. Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards All

Happy Holiday's All,
Kelly

You totally crack me up with donating body fat for anorexic models! Thanks for the laughs!
You're right, it has made me very happy to see the spontaneous outpouring for Operation Scanacan!! I think it's because we can actually DO something, and do something really cool as a group that no one person would be able to, even if they wanted to.

I was so happy to read the Christmas thread and see not just shopping lists of stuff, but real concerns and wishes. It is so heartening, and it IS what Christmas is all about.

There are so many wishes I wish I could grant - don't we all? Personally I offer prayers for the suffering, but so often I wish I could carry some of the load.

And then it seems the world wants you to knock everyone over to get a cheap plasma TV, or have a facelift or something, and be happy! Sometimes I feel like an alien when I see all that!

dmc,

Me too, when I think of what we can all accomplish together as a group, well I am sitting here teary eyed. I keep asking God to let me help other people by letting me win the lottery (like I have to win the lottery to help other people,,,,Oy Vey,,,,see how sefish we can be just in the way We want to help others????). I would get such a kick out of going to the bank and saying,,,,What is the payoff on so and so's mortgage,,,,or putting $10,000, $20,000 or whatever amount of money in a bag and playing Ding Dong Ditch,,,,LOL That would be FUN

Kelly

Here's a cheap thrill: try letting someone go in front of you in the grocery store! Especially this time of year. I don't work, and I don't have little kids, so I'm not usually in a hurry. I'll offer to let someone check out ahead of me who looks like they've had a tough day, or especially a mom with kids. They'll look at me with disbelief, and then like THEY won the lottery!! And it's free!

When I was a kid it was typical to hold doors and give up seats. The me first attitude seems to have changed that.

dmc,

I Love doing that,,,or I'll hold a door open for a man,,,,or just any little simple thing,,,,it's Fun to see peoples reactions. When I was a kid, we Always gave up our seat for an adult,,,or let someone with a smaller amount of items go in front of us or held a door open,,,,,not to mention the p's and q's,,,,,,,,my Mom gave us the *look* and we knew what we were supposed to do,,,LOL Gosh, I'll have to pay attention,,,I think she still does and I'm 41 years old,,,,ROFLOL,,,no, really, she raised us with manners and morals. I don't think some kids even know the meaning of those words today,,,,well,,,,some adults either,,,,,,sad.

I think we have our own little thread going on here,, between the 2 of us,,LOL
Kelly

Kelly - You are so right about kids not having manners & morals today. It really makes me sick to see how disrespectful kids can be.

If you run short on the body fat donations, I can contribute plenty!

Suzie,

Some kids do,,,,,I have a few kids that come into the Salon that are just Awesome. I can actually have a conversation with them,,,,,some of the others just sort of grunt there answers.

LOL, we'll take it,,,Oh how I Wish it were that easy.

Kelly

Kelly, your right, there are some very good kids out there. I think I live in an area that is very different from the rest of the country. Being in the NY-Philadelphia metro area, seem like so many people get caught up with "stuff". DH and I always comment when we travel that people are so much friendlier and take life slower in other areas.

I grew up near Chicago. When I moved up here, I was amazed at how Slow paced people were,,, I had spent a lot of time up here as a kid as this is where my Grandparents live. I knew people had a slower pace here, I just didn't realize how slow til I actually lived here,,,LOL

Now, when I go *home* I am so amazed at just how fast the pace is and yes, also the *stuff*.

Kelly

I meet lots of people on a day to day basis that I feel could use a good dose of Emily Post education, but I gotta tell you about one kid I know. I have known him since he was 5 years old. Many times over the last five years, I have been at a meal table with this young man, and *never once* has he failed to pull out his Grangmother's chair for her to sit, then go to his Mother and seat her, and so on down the line. He will not sit until all the ladies are seated. And I have never seen or heard anyone say anything to prompt him about doing it - he just does it! I just adore that kid! He restores my faith and belief in common courtesy.

I used to live in San Francisco, and when i had an extra couple of bucks, i would pay for the car behind me crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. A fun way to pass along a little kindness to a total stranger.

tgif,
Awesome Kid. That's Great,,,Love to hear stories like that.

tom,
What a nice thing to do,,,,bet the next person in line was surprised,,,I Hope They paid it forward.

Kelly

I always hoped the person i paid for would tell a friend or pay for someone else... etc. And that it would escalate. Anti road rage, LOL

Melissa

Kelly - That same child was visiting his Granny recently and during the course of conversation was asked about school. Was he taking any kind of history, etc. Things went smoothly until he was asked about arithmetic - he looked blank, and asked "what do you mean?" His Uncle said "You know - math!" Oh, yeah, I have a math class!

Ya gotta love 'em!
ginni

I am having a blu Christmas this year. I am not really in the mood for decorations or a tree. I have finished most of my shopping, but then I started in January, don't really have any ambition to wrap the gifts though. Giving a bit to Elaine felt great because I know she really wants, needs and will cherish the scanacan.

Donating the extra pounds to the anorexic is wonderful, I don't weigh enough to donate any but still have the offer of my in laws on the table for anyone that needs one, wants one. One would work great in the garden on a stick for the crows.

GG, the slower pace is the one thing I hold on to when I am in SC. In Las Vegas everyone is in such a hurry to get no where. My daughter is that way. She is so worried she is going to miss something that she doesn't realize she is passing up everything that is really important. Trying to tell an 18 year old to slow down and just breath doesn't go over well either.

Well, I better get my lazy butt in gear. I have been subpoenaed to court today as a victim/witness. So I need to shower before I am in contempt. I hope to catch up later.

CARAT ~ I need to remember to do my inhaler before I read your posts, I laugh too hard and start wheezing.

WOuld you be in contempt if you showed up stinky?

I had jury duty at a very inconvenient time, and wondered if I went straight from the barn if they would dismiss me because of the *smell*.

I wish you weren't blu!! What can we du for u?

OH dmc, sorry for the lack of air. I will try to give health warnings first.

I hate jury duty, I get picked everytime, have a horrible debate in my head cause I am female and keeping secrets from my DH is hard, and every case has been cemented in time with photographs that the attorneys feel the need to show the jury at every opportunity. DH says I am the perfect jury candidate. I fit the profile in the 99% bracket so I have been told. I am going to try the non-showering trick though. But I dont know if I can handle being near me long enough to make sure its strong enough for the judge to notice.
I hope that I wouldn't be in contempt for showing up stinky but since nothing else in this whole ordeal has made sense I am not taking any chances.

I don't think my blu-ness this year is fixable. It will be the first Christmas without my parents or brothers as they are all spending it with the angels.

I got an idea that just might be fun to try. See if ya'll think we could make it work. Let's pick a Christmas song - say Silent Night - or something we all know. Then find a time that all of us will be at home. Everyone get your favorite version ready to play and at the designated time turn it on and we will all sing together. I have this strange little feeling in my heart that I would be able to hear us *all* singing together.

Anyone wanna try?

ginni

Casey
Silly goose,,,just tell them your sure the person is guilty 'cause you Know the Police wouldn't make a mistake like that,,,,that should do it for you,,,LOL

And no it wouldn't do any good.,,,,I remember when I was 18,,,,the rest of the world was just going too slow,,,I was not going too fast,,,LOL She'll mellow with age.

Sorry to hear your parents and brother are spending Christmas with the Angels,,,,I'm pretty sure they are having one heck of a good time where they are,,,,I know I would be,,,,,,, but Very Hard as we want our loved ones here with us,,,,((((hugs Casey))))

tgif,

I'm in for Silent Night,,,my very favorite Christmas song,,,,,well along with Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer,,,,LOL,,,J/K

ooo, we have to remember the time zones,,,we all want to be singing at the Same time,,,not the time it is in our time zone.

Kelly

This message was edited Nov 30, 2005 2:10 PM

Can I share on here too? The title got me, and I already talked to Kelly about my "blue" feeling yesterday!

I donated my lovehandles, but someone sent them back. That didn't go well. Thought they would be gone when I got up this morning!

We live in a very slow paced community, it has been mentioned that they pull the sidewalks in at 7:00 cause everything just stops! We don't even have a stop light in town!

I did something today that made me feel a tiny bit better. I went to Walmart and go those little gloves, they come in "two sets" for 1.50 or so. Anyway, I got 20 sets, seperated them and tied each set with a candycane and ribbon...and took them down to the school. The school nurse knows of some kids that can use them. So, for approximately $30 I gave about 40 kids a little bit of warmth. I know it isn't much...but it gets really cold here and that might just take a bit of the sting out of their mornings.

While I was also sitting here feeling the blues, I felt this jabbing pain in my "backside". It was a gentle reminder that "Huck" is here and love me too....so he is on my chest purring away. That itself is a calming feeling.

Ya'll are wonderful. Silent Night makes me cry...but I will gladly do it.

Debbie

yup, gotta get the time zones zeroed in so we're all singing together. So, how about - Sunday night - 6:00 pm central - that would be 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 pm across the country. Now, I'm at a total loss beyond that, so if anyone outside these time zones wants to join in, please help us figure out a good time for all. If anyone has something already going at that time, I'm just trying to get a starting place, so feel free to chime in. Actually, I figure you don't even have to be at home or have the music. Just sing with us at the appointed time. (Please let all the furbabies know that they are invited to join us - purrs, yowls and howls are welcome!)

Debbie, what a sweet thing to do!

Kelly - have you ever headd Simon and Garfunkle do Silent Night/6:00 news? *Very* thought provoking!

CARAT - They say the first year of holidays without loved ones is the hardest, and in a lot of ways, that's true. But, I still miss my Dad and his parents (all three died within 4 months of each other in '86). However it *is* true that the pain goes away for the most part and the fun memories get better with time. The thing to hold onto is that LOVE conquers all.

I would, in the spirit of Christmas, take one in-law from you, but I think I may be next in line for recieving an in-law from my niece, and I feel that one at a time is probably all I can handle. Maybe next year?

Now, to the extra pounds floating around - I could actually use a few of those to put in DH's stocking ( 6'2" x 113lbs! ) I'm 5'2" and out weigh him by 10 pounds!

Ya'll let me know if the singing time will work. We have time to work out a better time if we need to, or for that matter, do more than one.

Debbie I'm so sorry to hear that your love handles were returned to sender!! your idea with the mittens sounds great, it sounds so pretty too tied up with a candy cane. I'm going to make some calls and see what I can come up with. It's so nice to be able to do something creative and giving.

Casey~I'm so sorry I didn't know it was a first Christmas without all those family members. I think all you can do is get through it. I thought the first two years were always hard, after that you have some history....Do you have any siblings left?

I'll do silent night, although I'm a HORRIBLE singer, so I'll sing very quietly. I'm SURE you'd hear me!!

Debbie,
Very nice thing to do,,,I'm sure those kids will be Very happy to have those gloves. Aw Huck is a good reminder and I believe it would be Very calming. I know Mooshka has that effect on me.

tgif,
Works for me.

Kelly

dmc,,,
LOL,,,,ther will be furbabies singing along,,,so no worries,,,ROFLOL

And heck I still can't pawn the almost outlaws off on anyone or the Model saving fat,,,,,woe is me.
Kelly

tgif needs some fat for DH's stocking, says so right up there!!

I have to say though, in laws, outlaws, and body parts thereof seem to have totally gone out of style this year!!

Kelly, I been trying to get rid of my outlaws for 16 years and they keep coming back...no one else wants them either! I actually got excited when DH's siblings suggested donating money to send them on a trip this year...all I could think was TWO WEEKS of PEACE! Was sort of like a gift for me LOL

Yes, Huck is a reminder of how much I am needed and loved, and as long as I keep him in supply of toilet paper he will be happy! I now have proof who is tearing up the new rolls!

Another idea for those in need....nursing homes! There are so many elderly people who's kids just forget them. Our Brownies troop adopted Grandparents, and it was the girls jobs to take care of their "grandparents" for the holidays. We made cookies, handprint cards, just stuff someone would do for a grandparent....and took them over. The kids also sang for them in the hall. I think I said on another link that my Mom works at a nursing home, all the employees are picking a "door" for each patient....and decorating it for them for the holidays. Just something little to cheer them up.

Now, if I start singing...I gotta warn the family. My cats think I am in pain or something and all come running...worried. So maybe I will go out in the car and sing! LOL

LOL Debbie, my dogs get all upset and run around me crying....if that tells you how melodious I am!!

Sing in the shower! It doesn't matter, as long as you're with us!

Debbie - I like your mitten idea! My church does a mitten tree. We put just a few balls on the tree and the rest is decorated with colorful mittens and hats that are brought in. After christmas, they are give to a local daycare for low income families. It is really something they appreciate. The gloves are given to parents in need as well as children.

TGIF - sending some extra body fat your way!. It will be there by Christmas, LOL.

Thanks susie! Sure hope I can get it on him without getting it on me. I sure don't need any extra, but talk about razor edge - that's DH. He has to stand in the same place *twice* to cast a shadow.

DMC, I have one brother left somewhere. He was exiled from the family when he was 20 for good reasons and no one has heard of him since. I did try to locate him by a private detective when the other brother passed in January, and by the time I had lost both parents and my aunt, the only lead the detective had was he had lived in Tacoma, Washington from 1989-1994 and has never been married or has children carrying his name. So basically I am an orphan now. Oviously my brother didn't want to be found any more then anyone wanted to find him.

Okay, I am horrible with time, so if its 6:00 here and 9:00 in South Carolina what time is in for Central?

Just to forwarn everyone, I am tone deaf and have papers to prove it. LOL I may just have the pets pipe in to cover me from complete humility.

Casey

Dear CARAT, the first "special days" are the worst. Since then, I can always feel them around me-especially when the raccoons dump the birdbath-I know my brother sent them. He used to Really spoil them on the farm.
Donating fat??-any addresses---Pulleas? In-laws-send them here, I have lots of fix-up work for them to do..
The best part of the holiday for me is the ringing of the SA bells, seeing the holiday lights and favorite holiday movies. There are all sorts of shows/services around here, if I get myself out.
Will be donating to Second Harvest this year (food bank) in my one sisters name-instead of getting the one extra gift that she really doesn't need- or probably want. There are so many things to be able to do, that don't require a whole lot of $$, but the "feel good " gift to self and others is priceless. The local foodbank, Ronald McDonald House (we have a large Childrens' Hospital here) for kids around the state, adopting a family or person is great-maybe even for more than this special day. Baking cookies for the volunteer fire/rescue departments.
Love the mittens....
Jury duty. Always wanted to be on one-never called until I became ill-just was called for the second time and was taken off-with short term memory problems-might be a major issue with the process-ya think!!?
furkids-Pippin the youngest dog, doesn't like the Christmas lights, my singing, anyone at the door, shadows on the wall, .........
tombaak- I love the "Pay It Forward" idea ..feels good and may well spread to the next person.
Hugs to all, glad that I found this part.

Casey~i was 22 when my father died suddenly of a heart attack on Jan 15. I had seen him on New Year's. In Feb. my mother who was 55 was diagnosed with colon cancer. She had a colostomy and was in the hospital before my father was buried. I returned from NYC where i was in art school, to hold down the fort. I went from "college kid" to the parent in one fell swoop. I got to do the casket showrooms, decide on embalming, all that. My mother hung on for almost 7 years, although the last two were with lots of equipment. I kind of dropped my art plans and went to MBA school so I could be around and hopefully get a good job with medical ins.
The spring my mother died my aunts also died, and my favorite great uncle who had been my rock. I had gotten married after grad school, moved to CA, had a kid within 10 mo. flew back and forth like crazy until my mother died (at home, we got her out, and I cared for her an infant around the clock) Then I cleaned up the whole estate, sold the house moved to NJ and had another kid - this was all within 2years, After that i cracked up. Big time.

It was too much to go from kid to all that with no help, no support, no clear idea of what was happening. My siblings were not helpful, my husband was a workaholic, and how the heck do you make FRIENDS with all that going on? moving and giving birth and settling estates from one end of the US to the other?

I remember thinking the whole universe was different, there was no protective layer between me and the entire cosmos. I was ALONE. It was scary. My past is lost.

That was almost 20 years ago now. Thank God I have a new life. But I do sympathize completely. That sense of being an orphan is so disorienting.

I will keep you in my prayers.
Dorothy

marcia - short term memory problems could indeed cause some problems on the jury!! (I may try to REMEMBEr that if i get called again when it's really inconvenient) ;-)

Well, I want to address Pay it Forward. I started the Christmas Dream for Elaine (IO1) because many folks on DG had helped me out in the last year, many small gifts of kindness when I needed it the most.

Within one hour of posting the Dream thread, someone on DG emailed me with a gift ordered for me, something I wanted for my kitchen but could not afford, to the tune of several hundred dollars. Amazing, isn't it?

So, now I need to Pay it Forward again!!

Good for you!! That is such good news. You have been such an inspiration here and you are paying it forward already, every day!

You need to keep your energy and spirits up too with all your packing and moving and tests!

darius,

How wonderful,,,,Truly very generous souls around the garden,,,,Good for you.

O.K. will everyone Please stop making me get teary eyed,,,,,LOL

I know I keep saying this but My Heart is soooo Happy.

Kelly

Kelly
Remeber to drink lots of water...you must be getting dehydrated by now LOL

dmc,

LOL I believe I prolly am by now,,,as I am such a softy when it comes to something like this,,,, But for me it's Diet Pepsi or coffee,,,,need my caffeine,,LOL

Kelly