Remember those awful Holiday Bragging Letters people sent out via snail mail before the New Year began? This was before we were all so well connected with email, the Internet, free long-distance, cell phones, Skype, and social networks. Sometimes a perfect family picture accompanied the letter.
A favorite holiday picture, suitable for inclusion in a typical, Holiday Bragging Letter--- or a blog entry.
The text itself chronicled the triumphs and celebrations of the previous 12 months. No one ever mentioned the black sheep of the family, high school or college dropouts, any who were hauled in for DUI, committed crimes, went to jail, had to get married, or got divorced. (The latter two were once in about the same category as incarceration). Bragging letters listed only good things. The purpose was to send the message that one’s own family was just perfect, and everyone else’s was not. You all must realize by now that I try to keep these columns light most of the time. Obviously there are people out there who still send these letters and recipients who are dying to know all the good news. They want to keep up, see pictures, hear news. I’m poking fun at the annual holiday letter the way I poke fun at almost everything. So don’t be offended. Now that I’ve gotten that out the way, I can get back to being sarcastic, critical and cynical. Or maybe serious. The holiday season is a dangerous couple of months for depression. People who’re having a hard time see all this holiday cheer and feel they’re the only ones not surrounded by a perfect family and loads of friends, with pocketfuls of money to spend on clothes, gifts travel and parties. Wise up and get real. If you’re in a good situation, count your blessings. If things aren’t so great, realize you’re like most folks. There’s good and there’s bad. No one’s life is perfect or without care, sorrow or disappointment. That’s the human condition. You know all those T-shirts that say things like “Put on your big girl panties and just deal with it”. There’s a reason they sell so well. One of my favorite sayings is from the play Same Time Next Year; “Life is full of hills and valleys”. It’s so true. I’ve written that all things pass, both the bad AND the good. If your family isn’t perfect or you find yourself alone or broke this holiday season, don’t despair. The entire rest of the world isn’t part of the set of White Christmas. The happy ending isn’t likely to come for each and every one in two hours, by the end of the story. Life is a journey. Just being in on the ride is wondrous. Even the bad days are good days. The fact that we’re here to experience any of it is a miracle. Just do the best you can. Well, if that sounds sanctimonious and preachy, I’m sorry. The advice that’s often given to folks at this time of year if they’re feeling down is to get out and help someone else feel better. It isn’t bad advice.
Can't believe it's been a year since this meal!
Although good friends had invited us to share their table, we declined and stayed home alone this Thanksgiving. We really appreciated their kind invitation, but we just wanted to stick around here together. We prepared nothing special, zipped over to the local BBQ place about noon for the traditional dinner, paid for it, and had nothing to clean up. I still prefer my own cooking and favorite recipes, but this was easier. We came home, bathed the dog, and had other fun all day long. I’m not kidding. It was a wonderful day. We didn’t feel we‘d missed anything (except the kids, of course). And the friends who had invited us over for dinner—we’ll be with them later this month. We don’t have a big family, and that’s just the way it is. Some of us, especially only children like me, reach an age when all the family who came before have passed on. Kids may live elsewhere. Holidays are bittersweet if I try to recreate my childhood memories of a huge, OLD, caring family, many of whom no doubt drove each other crazy. As the only little kid at the table, it was boring, but filled with love. Now I appreciate and miss it. I do enjoy the old family recipes and certainly did it up right for my kids every year when they were with me. I still do if they’re here for holidays, which most often they’re not. I can’t complain. I miss them, but see them when possible — holidays or any old days. They’re happy and healthy, and so are we. I’m a lucky, grateful woman. Peaceful Holidays to you all.
Loading image
Click anywhere to cancel
Image unavailable
