My best holidays were during very strict lockdowns in Italy. We had so much fun. We cooked what we wanted, we couldn't shop so we saved money, we dressed 7 dogs up in Xmas sweaters. We decorated, we didn't have to sit around extended family either being bored or angry. We had short phone calls to say happy holidays and had a joyous time. Now the obligations are back, the materialism, being around right wing anti-vaxxers for the peace. I miss Xmas 2020 so much.
This made me laugh out loud . . . "We’ve got weeks of Mele Kalikimaka and a holly, jolly Christmas in our immediate future." And so we do. Each year the season seems to start earlier. Finding ways to deal with the anxiety caused by all of the craziness in this country and now in the Middle East seems to be a full time job. I added you to Heather Cox Richardson and John Pavlovitz as each bring a different dose of sanity to my table. Thanks.
Hi, I'm writing my own story and it starts with a depressing near tragic time in my life which is probably a difficult read for some, but the message hopefully will be that no matter the problems we all can overcome them, in any way we choose, Thank you for your words.
Connie, as a long-time friend of Gaylee and Chris McCracken, Gaylee often posts or shares your writings. May I simply say as a fellow Storyteller and as someone who promotes National Family History Month every November, this particular offering was a terrific example of the power of reflection and self-disclosure therapy. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Sherrod and keep 'em coming!
I do believe Thanksgiving will become a holiday that is never again celebrated in my home. Today I’m sitting at the hospital alter having ended my son’s life support. In other words, we’re waiting for a 49 year old young man to die. It’s not fair, of course, but nobody ever promised that life would always be fair. Thanks again, Connie, for your wonderful words. I need them right now.
Connie, your holiday essays have made me so much more careful not to wish someone a happy holiday, almost as if it's a demand. I do still wish it for them...I just say it differently. This year, I'm anxious about some unexpected things, but have decided to look for moments of joy (a foster kitten in my lap, my string of twinkling orange lights my dad's chestnut stuffing recipe...) and try to let the rest go. Being gentle with myself is a bit of a new concept.
Beautiful! And curious as to your choice of using a Hawaiian-themed song as an example. As always, appreciating your words. Joyous and safe holidays to you and yours.
Thanksgiving has always been a mixed bag for me. We never celebrated it in my primary family. After I got put in foster care, foster care parents did. But then, as an adult, I would bounce around as a guest at different families of friends' homes or simply go to Friendsgiving, or just spend the day alone. As you can imagine, each of these things had their positives and negatives.
“May the day land gently.” Thank you for this. A lovely blessing. It’s our family’s first thanksgiving without their dad, who died in April of lung cancer. My daughter, diagnosed three years ago with breast cancer, has Covid. Her 39th birthday is on Monday. I will be thinking of your kind words, and hope the many who are struggling will find solace in them.
My parents both had Christmas Day birthdays. Have thought recently about the first Christmas after my mother died, (at 50!) and how I ridiculously expected dad to celebrate Christmas as usual. Now that I am almost 2 decades older than my father was that day, I look back on how surprising he could even get out of bed that day. But he did and carried on for his six kids. Never have I appreciated him more than I do now.
Your essay reminds me how much I loved the Thanksgiving dinners when my family could be together. Now I spend it with friends for which I'm grateful but still...
Thank you, Connie, I needed this today.
My best holidays were during very strict lockdowns in Italy. We had so much fun. We cooked what we wanted, we couldn't shop so we saved money, we dressed 7 dogs up in Xmas sweaters. We decorated, we didn't have to sit around extended family either being bored or angry. We had short phone calls to say happy holidays and had a joyous time. Now the obligations are back, the materialism, being around right wing anti-vaxxers for the peace. I miss Xmas 2020 so much.
That poem is FABULOUS. Sorry to shout but it is. Thank you so much for your delicately nuanced writing here.
Thank you Connie. Particularly needed this this year. Your words "landed gently" at just the right time.
Thank you for giving me permission.
This made me laugh out loud . . . "We’ve got weeks of Mele Kalikimaka and a holly, jolly Christmas in our immediate future." And so we do. Each year the season seems to start earlier. Finding ways to deal with the anxiety caused by all of the craziness in this country and now in the Middle East seems to be a full time job. I added you to Heather Cox Richardson and John Pavlovitz as each bring a different dose of sanity to my table. Thanks.
Hi, I'm writing my own story and it starts with a depressing near tragic time in my life which is probably a difficult read for some, but the message hopefully will be that no matter the problems we all can overcome them, in any way we choose, Thank you for your words.
Connie, as a long-time friend of Gaylee and Chris McCracken, Gaylee often posts or shares your writings. May I simply say as a fellow Storyteller and as someone who promotes National Family History Month every November, this particular offering was a terrific example of the power of reflection and self-disclosure therapy. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Sherrod and keep 'em coming!
I do believe Thanksgiving will become a holiday that is never again celebrated in my home. Today I’m sitting at the hospital alter having ended my son’s life support. In other words, we’re waiting for a 49 year old young man to die. It’s not fair, of course, but nobody ever promised that life would always be fair. Thanks again, Connie, for your wonderful words. I need them right now.
Oh, Ellen. I am so sorry.
Thank you, Connie! As always, you get to the heart of what most experience.
Connie, your holiday essays have made me so much more careful not to wish someone a happy holiday, almost as if it's a demand. I do still wish it for them...I just say it differently. This year, I'm anxious about some unexpected things, but have decided to look for moments of joy (a foster kitten in my lap, my string of twinkling orange lights my dad's chestnut stuffing recipe...) and try to let the rest go. Being gentle with myself is a bit of a new concept.
Beautiful! And curious as to your choice of using a Hawaiian-themed song as an example. As always, appreciating your words. Joyous and safe holidays to you and yours.
Thanksgiving has always been a mixed bag for me. We never celebrated it in my primary family. After I got put in foster care, foster care parents did. But then, as an adult, I would bounce around as a guest at different families of friends' homes or simply go to Friendsgiving, or just spend the day alone. As you can imagine, each of these things had their positives and negatives.
“May the day land gently.” Thank you for this. A lovely blessing. It’s our family’s first thanksgiving without their dad, who died in April of lung cancer. My daughter, diagnosed three years ago with breast cancer, has Covid. Her 39th birthday is on Monday. I will be thinking of your kind words, and hope the many who are struggling will find solace in them.
My parents both had Christmas Day birthdays. Have thought recently about the first Christmas after my mother died, (at 50!) and how I ridiculously expected dad to celebrate Christmas as usual. Now that I am almost 2 decades older than my father was that day, I look back on how surprising he could even get out of bed that day. But he did and carried on for his six kids. Never have I appreciated him more than I do now.
Your essay reminds me how much I loved the Thanksgiving dinners when my family could be together. Now I spend it with friends for which I'm grateful but still...