Christmas is unlike any time because of the traditions and memories we all hold, although each being different and some better, some worse. One memorable was when the cat happily munched the defrosting turkey overnight - mum was not amused the next morning!
Aaaah Jo, what a lovely post. It reminds me that although Christmas is on the same day every year, it is indeed a moveable feast, as the cast of characters is ever changing.
I have done Christmas with and without parents, with and without children and with and without friends... and every combination in between.
Thank you, Jo, for stirring the pot of Christmas memories. It is becoming a challenging time as my youngest gets closer to her 21st birthday and further away from her father. She does not want to celebrate Christmas because it is too painful right now. I can't help it. I like the lights and dazzle. I like the music I only hear one month out of the year. I remember how my elders essentially stopped "doing" Christmas and I wonder what will happen when my kids move on and I am alone. The biggest detriment for me will not be the willingness - it will be the inability.
Hubby and I always agreed on a spending limit. The fun was to see how we could maximize those meager dollars. Our first Christmas the budget was set at $5 each. It was 1989 and $5 did not go far. I remember I bought him a nice black wallet. I don't remember what he gave me. We didn't have much, but we made it a lot of fun.
This year is different because my son's girlfriend is celebrating her 2nd Christmas with us. Last year, we didn't really know her and it was a bit awkward. This year she is one of us, but has added a kink in that she wants her presents wrapped in a specific Hello Kitty wrapping paper she found. It messes with my sense of symmetry (I like the packages to match or have a theme), but I will play along. After all, she did decorate my tree.
That’s quite strange telling you what wrapping paper to use. We did impose a spending limit between us! I agree with you Christmas was never about the presents, for me anyway, but getting together xxx
Hi Jo. I have no advice for you regarding Christmas or any other occasion that might have given one warmth along with the privilege of holding it for oneself.
I never liked holidays period. I guess I've been like that Peggy Lee song, "Is That all there Is?". Perhaps I was an adult in a child's body. I would rather have sat in the back yard of my childhood home, holding my pet chicken, Henrietta Hen, and running my hand over her beautiful white feathers in the direction of their growth so as not to ruffle them. Henrietta would make soft hen sounds, possibly like a cat's purring when getting loving attention.
One day Henrietta was among the missing. I found out later where she was: on the dinner table. I was furious at my dad. Needless to say, I went to my room without eating my pet.
I should say, that was not one of my "Is That all there Is" moments.
Anyway, most all my friends and family members have left us. I can't even dwell on their lives and the exits made. The last line in that song goes something like this: "I know, as long as I'm sitting here talking to you, when I die, with my last dying breath I'll say to myself, "Is That all there Is? (Repeat line) If that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is."
The orchestration has a bit of a Russian tone to it. I want a printed copy of the lyrics stuffed into my urn with my ashes, and shipped down to New Orleans where the Preservation Hall Jazz Band plays the best Dixieland music ever. I disagree that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. No. It's New Orleans where people live like, yes, that's all there is.
So, dear Jo, you do Christmas your way, and every other day as well. And I'll do the same. The word ourselves is nothing to be apologetic about for anyone. It's freedom at its best.
Thanks Richard, poor you and poor Henrietta, when you are child experiences like that stay with you. I loved New Orleans we visited about 8 years ago. Amazing city and people. Unfortunately we were only there for 3 days. It's somewhere I would have liked to visit again. Great choice for your urn. X
I worked for Southern Railway in Atlanta and was able to travel free from Atlanta to New Orleans.
The train was owned by Southern and was the beautiful style of train that people loved to ride.
The only trip to New Orleans I didn't enjoy was for Mardis Gras. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't what I got. The crowds were so thick one couldn't move without the entire crowd moving. I suppose it was tantamount to being in Times Square on New Years Eve. The only thing good about Mardis Gras was the spirit of people letting loose of the burdens of every day life. Everything goes.
Next subject:
I learned to type at home on the same style typewriter as your hard to gather one from Etsy.
That was with the two pointing fingers finding the right keys and the thumb for a space bar.
In highschool I took typing the right way. The class had both manual and newly invented electric ones. I chose the manual to start with. Learning was so easy with a good instructor.
I was transferred to the electric once I got the proper style down. I'm ashamed to say I preferred the manual.
Now, with modern creations that improve as time goes by I am at least grateful for my typing abilities. When applying for jobs I eventually reached a speed of 110 words per minute. It helped me get into big corporations and then, talking a Legal Secretary class in Beverly Hills when I lived in LA,, I scored 96 percent at graduation and thereafter worked in law firms for the next 30 years until retirement. I had no college but according to a test I took after being drafted into the military, I had a 2nd year college IQ.
Well, Jo, once again you've forced some fond memories out of me. It's helping to somewhat calm my radical nature that manages to get me nowhere.
Christmas is unlike any time because of the traditions and memories we all hold, although each being different and some better, some worse. One memorable was when the cat happily munched the defrosting turkey overnight - mum was not amused the next morning!
Just cut the munched bits off no one would notice the difference. 😂xx
I believe that is what happened 😂
Aaaah Jo, what a lovely post. It reminds me that although Christmas is on the same day every year, it is indeed a moveable feast, as the cast of characters is ever changing.
I have done Christmas with and without parents, with and without children and with and without friends... and every combination in between.
It’s a remarkable time, in the truest sense.
Merry Christmas to you! 😘
It’s a strange time! I am quite happy spending Christmas on my own now xx
Thank you, Jo, for stirring the pot of Christmas memories. It is becoming a challenging time as my youngest gets closer to her 21st birthday and further away from her father. She does not want to celebrate Christmas because it is too painful right now. I can't help it. I like the lights and dazzle. I like the music I only hear one month out of the year. I remember how my elders essentially stopped "doing" Christmas and I wonder what will happen when my kids move on and I am alone. The biggest detriment for me will not be the willingness - it will be the inability.
Hubby and I always agreed on a spending limit. The fun was to see how we could maximize those meager dollars. Our first Christmas the budget was set at $5 each. It was 1989 and $5 did not go far. I remember I bought him a nice black wallet. I don't remember what he gave me. We didn't have much, but we made it a lot of fun.
This year is different because my son's girlfriend is celebrating her 2nd Christmas with us. Last year, we didn't really know her and it was a bit awkward. This year she is one of us, but has added a kink in that she wants her presents wrapped in a specific Hello Kitty wrapping paper she found. It messes with my sense of symmetry (I like the packages to match or have a theme), but I will play along. After all, she did decorate my tree.
That’s quite strange telling you what wrapping paper to use. We did impose a spending limit between us! I agree with you Christmas was never about the presents, for me anyway, but getting together xxx
Sheryl, thanks for that last sentence! It was a surprise and made me laugh out loud. (I'm old. I can't do that LOL thing when I write.)
Hi Jo. I have no advice for you regarding Christmas or any other occasion that might have given one warmth along with the privilege of holding it for oneself.
I never liked holidays period. I guess I've been like that Peggy Lee song, "Is That all there Is?". Perhaps I was an adult in a child's body. I would rather have sat in the back yard of my childhood home, holding my pet chicken, Henrietta Hen, and running my hand over her beautiful white feathers in the direction of their growth so as not to ruffle them. Henrietta would make soft hen sounds, possibly like a cat's purring when getting loving attention.
One day Henrietta was among the missing. I found out later where she was: on the dinner table. I was furious at my dad. Needless to say, I went to my room without eating my pet.
I should say, that was not one of my "Is That all there Is" moments.
Anyway, most all my friends and family members have left us. I can't even dwell on their lives and the exits made. The last line in that song goes something like this: "I know, as long as I'm sitting here talking to you, when I die, with my last dying breath I'll say to myself, "Is That all there Is? (Repeat line) If that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is."
The orchestration has a bit of a Russian tone to it. I want a printed copy of the lyrics stuffed into my urn with my ashes, and shipped down to New Orleans where the Preservation Hall Jazz Band plays the best Dixieland music ever. I disagree that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. No. It's New Orleans where people live like, yes, that's all there is.
So, dear Jo, you do Christmas your way, and every other day as well. And I'll do the same. The word ourselves is nothing to be apologetic about for anyone. It's freedom at its best.
Thanks Richard, poor you and poor Henrietta, when you are child experiences like that stay with you. I loved New Orleans we visited about 8 years ago. Amazing city and people. Unfortunately we were only there for 3 days. It's somewhere I would have liked to visit again. Great choice for your urn. X
I worked for Southern Railway in Atlanta and was able to travel free from Atlanta to New Orleans.
The train was owned by Southern and was the beautiful style of train that people loved to ride.
The only trip to New Orleans I didn't enjoy was for Mardis Gras. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't what I got. The crowds were so thick one couldn't move without the entire crowd moving. I suppose it was tantamount to being in Times Square on New Years Eve. The only thing good about Mardis Gras was the spirit of people letting loose of the burdens of every day life. Everything goes.
Next subject:
I learned to type at home on the same style typewriter as your hard to gather one from Etsy.
That was with the two pointing fingers finding the right keys and the thumb for a space bar.
In highschool I took typing the right way. The class had both manual and newly invented electric ones. I chose the manual to start with. Learning was so easy with a good instructor.
I was transferred to the electric once I got the proper style down. I'm ashamed to say I preferred the manual.
Now, with modern creations that improve as time goes by I am at least grateful for my typing abilities. When applying for jobs I eventually reached a speed of 110 words per minute. It helped me get into big corporations and then, talking a Legal Secretary class in Beverly Hills when I lived in LA,, I scored 96 percent at graduation and thereafter worked in law firms for the next 30 years until retirement. I had no college but according to a test I took after being drafted into the military, I had a 2nd year college IQ.
Well, Jo, once again you've forced some fond memories out of me. It's helping to somewhat calm my radical nature that manages to get me nowhere.
You're a wonderful human being.
Richard
Sending love, Jo. 😘 Such a thought-provoking post, thank you.