We try. Burlkraft, I hear you.
I think many of us from them 'olden times' had similar Christmas. I never remember asking for anything, so was always grateful for whatever or nothing. I liked the spirit of it, and there was always something special around somewhere.
A couple years ago, the immediate family agreed on just stockings. Little odds and ends, a few special treats, etc. Which is as good as it has been with other stuff, as far as that goes. None of the grandchildren made it this year....or, the year before now that I think of it. Oldest daughter and her husband were in Mexico for Thanksgiving, and 'entertaining' at their house for Christmas (which put me a bit off center). Youngest daughter is back living at the house, oldest surviving boy got a few days pass from Afghanistan, but they are stationed at Ft Drum, though it is good to know he is on American soil and with his family. He called as he was waiting to leave, to let me know he had decided to stay in the military in order to make a living. The youngest boy came for a bit with his girlfriend...who, made it plain that she hadn't gotten enough stuff...
and, I was my normal self to that. She got 'sick' and they had to go.
There is good reason that in civilized societies families gather at the 'senior' households for Christmas and other important events.
And, of course, Mom and I always have a quiet moment pass between us remembering the buried son.
No, bibby, it surely doesn't have as much flavor as once it did. And yes, we have no trouble whatsoever appreciating the box of cereal (for me, it is actually crackers)
.
I did search and find old wooden ornaments on ebay for my wife for Christmas, which I gave her a few days early, and she retired all the glass balls. So, that was a big plus.
I made pies and cookies and such, as I have traditionally for.....ooohhhh...uh, a few decades. And we ATE, and still have plenty to EAT.
The youngest daughter works at WalMart....what a revolting set of circumstances that place is. Mean spirited people become all their 'glory' there around Christmas (and most the rest of the time)
We're short vehicles now, so Mom and I have to coordinate rides for her to and from there.
Mom flips burgers at the big mac, now. Of course, old habits of having run business for all those years, she can't help but be a 'thorn in the side'.
Both, walmart and the big mac closed for Christmas day, and they both had to work the closing.
My baby sister called me Christmas day, and the next oldest took the phone and talked to me (a big highlight for me)
. They both have been calling from time to time since we buried their mother last year and the baby brother the year before. A couple weeks ago, the 'now baby brother' (twins) called me....from jail. DWI. His first (at almost 50) experience with arrest, etc. and needed counsel.
( I was good about not 'I told you so'....pretty much.)
I always take Christmas day off, which is good. And, it was cold and drizzly, and had a good fire going in the woodstove. The youngest daughter got me Billy Jack collection on dvd (they fit in the stocking), and those went on in the background. Seeing those 'today', I had even more appreciation for the time and content than I did back then.
Ol' dad ate and dozed and lounged...and ate, and dozed....
Yeah...I like Christmas, anyhow.
But then, the BS surrounding it seems to get deeper and deeper every year.
