Perhaps nice for small families with little children, but a minefield for many extended families, let alone the lonely.
‘Halloween’ (All Hallows Eve) in the religious calendar is for remembering the dead, the saints and martyrs – probably mixed up with the end of summer, harvest home, and pre-Christian festivals for those things too. Turning it into lollies and vandalism is not in anyone’s interests, certainly not for children, their behaviour, their teeth or their nutrition.
‘Thanksgiving’ was the Harvest Festival, when the Pilgrim Fathers had survived a summer with enough food to last through the winter. In a nation with serious obesity problems, a festival based on lots of food surely deserves a re-think.
‘Christmas’ is the time for celebrating the birth of Jesus. It has been overtaken by gift buying (and of course more food). If you actually read the New Testament, the three wise men who came from the East were not at the crib in Bethlehem with their presents. They went first to Herod, who sent them off to find the ‘young child’. When they didn’t return promptly, Herod ordered the slaughter of the innocents, all boys under two. An accurate celebration might mean waiting a couple of years to hand over gold, frankincense or myrrh, then manage a mass murder of toddlers. This stupid suggestion is no sillier than plastic trees, glass baubles, electric lights, heaps of parcels that are often unwanted, and lots of alcohol.
I think what I am suggesting is to walk away from ‘celebrations’ that cause more problems than pleasure, to know what we value and want to celebrate, and pick a good way for that to work. At a minimum, to stop feeling guilty if things don’t work out like a good old fashioned ‘leave it to Beaver’ way.
GOD BLESS THE USA
that doesnt make me a jaded old grinch and an ' under the table , uninsured cowboy builder ' is really pulling things out of your azz .
now if you called me a mischievious old man up on the hill who likes to wind people up just for free entertainment and a few laughs , i would probably agree with that .
happy holidays to everyone . dont let anybody tell you how to celebrate them ( or not ) .
Really? I have never heard of such a thing. Where I live (in USA) people in general try to conserve water and energy as evidenced by our toilets using less than a gallon per flush. People are encouraged to take 5 minute showers to save water. If such a thing as you said really happened, it was done by some idiot or it was made up. There is such thing as fake news.
In my family and extended family, we haven't traded gifts for many years now. Only the kids get gifts. No commercialization of the holidays, at least not in my family circle.
I thought that this lovely poem might get things back on track:
The Maid-Servant at the Inn, by Dorothy Parker
"It's queer," she said; "I see the light
As plain as I beheld it then,
All silver-like and calm and bright ---
We've not had stars like that again!
"And she was such a gentle thing
To birth a baby in the cold.
The barn was dark and frightening ---
This new one's better than the old.
"I mind my eyes were full of tears,
For I was young, and quick distressed
But she was less than me in years
That held a son against her breast.
"I never saw a sweeter child ---
The little one, the darling one! ---
I mind I told her, when he smiled
You'd know he was his mother's son.
"It's queer that I should see them so ---
The time they came to Bethlehem
Was more than thirty years ago;
I've prayed that all is well with them."
Logging out until this thread is deleted.
I had friends who went camping over Christmas, with a rule that all presents had to be made on the spot from natural materials – OK a bit of sticky tape etc was supplied. They said that the thought that went into it made it the best Christmas ever. I’m still looking for ways to celebrate Christmas that will bring a smile, peace and joy, which I wish to all of us.
I am one of those "lonely ones". who no longer have family. My Dad passed last April, my mom is still around but in memory care and doesn't really realize holidays.. I lost relationships with all my siblings when my Dad died last April.. They were MIA but when they did show up.. they managed to harass me and hated/blamed me for everything concerning my parents.
Needless to say... I am spending all holidays alone this year (other then visiting my mom in memory care). My strategy is to simply ignore the holidays.. I dont watch TV.. and I am treating the holidays as just another day.. and trying to enjoy my day off as much as possible.
Maybe at some point I can find a new routine where I can start enjoying holidays.. away from any family connections of course.. but for this year.. that is my strategy.. I fear that if I did any thing else.. and tried to "be happy".. it would put too much stress on me and catapult me deeper into depression.
I do feel there is a lot of pressure to have happy family connections.. and to be happy.. and if you aren't in that place...it is a tough time of year to get through.
Don’t know! Sorry.
its a sht show out there .
i dont think girls or women should play the crowd to a frenzy and then break everything off after their ego's have been maxed out and theyve played everyone for money , food , entertainment , and exitement either . its trashy as sht .
Then you should understand. Those things should never have happened to your son, EVER!
Honestly, even if a woman had no clothes on at all, a man NEVER has the right to touch her, EVER! You can’t blame the victims.
You also can’t excuse men for behaving inappropriately, blackmailing or committing crimes.
My younger daughter had a crazy boyfriend. The day he put his hands around her neck, she left him! He was a spoiled ‘momma’s boy’ that expected her to do the same. When she didn’t he couldn’t handle it. His mom even called me to speak to my daughter to tell her to give him his way!
I told her that my daughter was over 18 and made her own choices and to never call me and ask me to interfere again. Thank God she broke up with him. I can’t imagine her having him as a mate or having to deal with her for a MIL!
I have a sense of humor but trust me, any female that has been molested or raped won’t find the story about your neighbor the least bit entertaining.
Kids experiment but a man who forces himself on a young girl or woman is a totally different story. A life changing situation that is never forgotten and is never a joke. Any young girl or woman should receive justice because it’s a crime.
Unfortunately, it’s the most unreported crime because women haven’t felt safe coming forward. That’s changing some and I hope that one day now women will ever fear reporting any crime.
By the way, the same goes for young boys who are molested. I hope they get justice for the crime committed against them.
It’s a serious accusation and should have to be proven. Sometimes it is a false accusation. Other times, the father is a child molester and the mom isn’t able to provide proof and he gets away with it. Very complicated and sad. The poor kid is caught in the middle and suffers horribly.
I just said that I know there is abuse and I have volunteered with shelters too. But I do know that sadly, there are false accusations too. Hopefully, they are rare.
All of us know people who have been abused or abused ourselves. I absolutely did not deny that.
There are two sides though. Nothing wrong with pointing that out. Not saying it’s true with the woman that you are helping. I think it’s wonderful that you are helping her.
I can’t stand when women falsely accuse a man. Firstly because it’s wrong to do that to a man. Secondly, it makes it a million times harder for women who truly were abused to be believed. It’s terrible all around.
Captain, sadly there are false accusations but you are smart enough to know that there is also horrible abuse as well.
What you just described is true in some cases and happened recently over a football game! My daughter attends LSU. For the first time in eight years LSU beat Bama. Well, a Bama fan and an LSU fan got into it.
First of all, those schools are huge rivals. Nick Sabin used to be LSU’s coach before going with Bama. There is always tension at their games. My daughter sells her tickets for that game, makes a ton of money and stays out of the chaos.
There was a tragic ending after this year’s game. The Bama guy killed the LSU guy who had a fiancé and a young child. How horrible is that? Then what did the Bama guy do? Punched himself hard in the eye to make it look like self defense. Didn’t work! The guy is charged with murder!
Insane to kill someone in the first place! Even more insane to kill someone over a football game!
Hey, I am glad the New Orleans Saints beat the Falcons yesterday but I can’t imagine killing over loosing a game. It’s a freakin game! How can someone take someone’s life over a game? Just crazy!
In the weeks before Christmas you won't find Dear Husband and I in crowded parking lots wandering through malls and stores. I get a single token gift (inexpensive but thoughtfully chosen, purchased locally or online ) for my children and grandchildren. Dear Husband and I do not exchange gifts. I put up an eensy 12" Christmas tree and a tiny lit garland in the entrance area of our house. I send out dozen Christmas cards and get back 2. Doesn't matter. I love sending Christmas cards. Some years if I feel like it, I'll bake a few goodies to give to friends and neighbors. We listen to classical Christmas music to celebrate the reason for the season, which warms my soul like nothing else. Christmas eve we'll watch a favorite holiday-themed movie. On the big day, Dear Husband and I have a small home-cooked meal together with a pumpkin pie. Later we might bundle up and take a walk.
This is our Christmas now, 21st Century style. No, it's not 1962 with a Douglas fir sweeping the ceiling, loads of gifts, 40 Christmas cards and a big family dinner. On the other hand, there's no stress, no big expense, or days of decorating to put up and take down. Just simple Christmas joys.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate the birth of Christ.
no hard feelings from me . no blameshifting , no half truths , lies of omission , etc .
i once told my probation officer that dollar for dollar probation is cheaper than therapy -- so -- lets do this sht -- .
told another that i was gonna go out to the hatchery and fk fish for community service . he bout spit his teeth out on the desk .
ahhh , good times ..,.
yea i know there are some genuinely disadvantaged people in this world . theres a lot of assclowns too .
the freedom challenged i work with all feel nitpicked by the courts too -- but -- they are forgetting that i know how to read . their official charges have been reduced to the most serious charge but a closer look at different public records will show all kinds of dropped charges and general ' failure to repair ' -- along with a history of recidivism .
they aint putting people in prison for singing too loud in the church choir .
My cat was an attack cat! She was loving, sweet and gentle, but let a dog step into my yard and my brave cat would chase them off! First time I saw her do that I was shocked.
She was quite intimidating to a dog or she didn’t meet her match. The dogs she encountered were wusses because they ran off with their tail between their legs. So funny! My neighbors would call her the neighborhood attack cat.
The little dog that I owned, mini schnauzer, thought she was a giant dog and was the sassiest thing! My big dog, that I owned, a rescued greyhound was a big baby and ran away from my daughter’s toy French poodle. Hahaha
Animals are so funny. Each has their own personality.
It’s entertaining at least! Kind of ridiculous too. But there is a day that everything is recognized. What a marketing strategy, huh?
National donut day
Wine day! Okay, I’ll bite for that one! Specials on wine!
Coffee Day, ‘Why yes, I will take a free cup of coffee!’ They know people will buy a pastry to go with that coffee. Hahaha
Ice cream day!
The list goes on and on.