@Oldelvis Mine’s three days before that; I feel your pain. Early on, I learned the lesson that while everyone else’s birthday was an event to be celebrated, mine was irrelevant. The really appalling ones said that I should feel honored to have it in this season. I eventually got to where I am now; I loathe the whole mess. While I try not to rain on other people’s parades, I refuse to even recognize the date that nobody’s going to pay any attention to anyway, and I let everyone know that I expect nothing on the other one. (I have a number of friends in the same boat; we call this The Birthday Season of the Damned.)
@Oldelvis@werehatrack I feel this too. Mine is mid-January; when all the credit card bills come due from the orgy of spending trying to outdo each other on thoughtful Christmas gifts. (Read as gift cards because you have no idea or that much care for what your loved ones really want and need.) No one is in the mood for celebrating come mid-January. Last year, for my birthday, I got a travel spork to keep in my car in the event an unplanned snack happens. This was a gift collectively from my entire family! No cake, no card, no special dinner…nothing!
@Oldelvis@Star2236@werehatrack My BDay is a few days after New Years. When I was growing up my Godmother (friend of my parents) always made an event of my 1/2-year birthday in July. I really liked it and we all agreed it was unfair that people who have birthdays around Christmas and New Years “lose” their special day. Plus, if you are like 7 years old, 7 1/2 is a big jump percentage-wise.
@Oldelvis@pmarin@Star2236 My daughter does that; hers is Dec 25th. I couldn’t get anybody behind the idea for mine, and I wasn’t too thrilled about it myself, anyway. Once I had it drilled into me that my birthday did not matter at all, the concept of also having it ignored at some other time of year just did not appeal all that much - and that was what I expected would happen. It may not be rational, but even after all this time, discussing the idea still puts me into an emotional nosedive. Treating my birthday as something that does not exist is my best defense mechanism.
@sicc574@Tadlem43
Well fortunately I’ve got NO Christmas tree to hang myself from!
WHAT A TERRIBLE SONG!!
I have family and I have friends so I’ve really got nothing to complain about!
Being alone is a state of mind and I just thank my lucky stars that I’m not feeling that awful kind of depression that I still can remember all to well!
Prayers, hugs and smiles for anyone who’s feeling down and/or needs them!
@Lynnerizer@sicc574 I’m so sorry. That’s horrible!
I’ve been alone for years. It doesn’t seem to get easier. I hope the day passes quickly for you and you can find some joy!
Merry Christmas!
@sicc574@Tadlem43
OMG that’s awful of her, I’m so sorry! Good thing kids are resilient and thank goodness for video chat, at least that’s better than nothing or just a phone call.
Karma always has a way coming back around so please don’t let your ex wife’s inner ugliness be contagious or dim your light. One of these days when she’s least expecting it karma will find her!
If it weren’t for my kids, I wouldn’t be too bothered either way, I don’t think. Though it’s probably not too long until I have some grandkids to really get me excited for the holidays again!
@goodjuju My partner has grandkids; quite a few, in fact. He and his second-youngest daughter spent the majority of the day acquiring a few last-minute things, wrapping the many presents, and boxing some to ship off tomorrow. I acted as chauffeur and otherwise stayed the hell out of the way.
In my silly business (radio) I need to plan, record and provide “content” well in advance. My weekend show hits 12/24 12/25 this year, so the pressure was on. But it is all done, and now I can chill. Used the 1946 RADIO version of “It’s A Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart.
@tweezak Actually, at my first job, I always volunteered to take the Xmas shift and get the extra pay. Double-time-and-a-half with something to do, in a place where there was little to remind me of the date, was better than being at home.
@Cerridwyn@fondaporn@tweezak@werehatrack
My parents divorced (swapped partners with their best friends) when I was 17-18 and it was kind of messy for a while. (Lol who am I kidding it’s been a shit show my whole life with my parents spouses and their son) So instead of having to deal with THAT I’d always volunteer for the holidays (prime time shifts) so others could be with their family and children.
There’s that ONE family member sibling that without fail every year…. Has to ask: “Why did you get me this?
2 minutes after unwrapping her present. I can hear it coming…
Which is why that person is the hardest person to shop for in my family…
@AZnatural1 Gift cards and cash are always the right size and usually a good fit! Jus sayen…! And if put inside one of those puzzle thingys that should shut her up for a few minutes anyway. Lol
@AZnatural1 People like that, I just ask them to make a wish list that I can shop from, or give me a list of places they’d be able to use a gift card to. I like to put a lot of thought into the gifts I buy, so getting that response would be really deflating.
My family has gone through a bunch of stuff in the past two years that mean Christmas will never be the same as it was. We went from having a wonderful day at my parents’ house to trying to find a restaurant that is open so we can have dinner and open our gifts there.
Last year, I was in charge of finding a place, and it was so stressful, even though my brother and SIL called a lot of places too. We called something like 50 places before we found a place. This year, the arrangements are better, but it’s still not the same. It was such a drastic change and so sudden that I’m still having a hard time with it.
All that was to say I’m not especially looking forward to it.
I’m in Savannah, Georgia, more than halfway from my home in Virginia to the “home” I’ve never lived in in Tampa. Every year as my parents get older, this trip gets more and more important.
@kostia I LOVED my visit to Savannah this summer for the first time ever and being in the low country of SC and in the SouthEast. Visited Tybee and truly never saw anything more beautiful than being on the driftwood beach on Jekyll Island during those storms the week before 4th of July. Left my heart on a Georgia beach vowing to return one day!
To accommodate the varied schedules of our 4 kids, we did the family Christmas celebration two weeks ago. So the pressure is off and the actual holiday will be a pretty low key affair with just me, my wife and possibly her parents. Sweet!
I’m getting a year older. On the 24th.
@Oldelvis I’ll be another year older than I was last December 24th too.
@Oldelvis Technically, you’ll only be six days older than you were when you posted this.
@Oldelvis Mine’s three days before that; I feel your pain. Early on, I learned the lesson that while everyone else’s birthday was an event to be celebrated, mine was irrelevant. The really appalling ones said that I should feel honored to have it in this season. I eventually got to where I am now; I loathe the whole mess. While I try not to rain on other people’s parades, I refuse to even recognize the date that nobody’s going to pay any attention to anyway, and I let everyone know that I expect nothing on the other one. (I have a number of friends in the same boat; we call this The Birthday Season of the Damned.)
@Oldelvis @werehatrack I feel this too. Mine is mid-January; when all the credit card bills come due from the orgy of spending trying to outdo each other on thoughtful Christmas gifts. (Read as gift cards because you have no idea or that much care for what your loved ones really want and need.) No one is in the mood for celebrating come mid-January. Last year, for my birthday, I got a travel spork to keep in my car in the event an unplanned snack happens. This was a gift collectively from my entire family! No cake, no card, no special dinner…nothing!
@Oldelvis @werehatrack
I one cousin who’s bday is Xmas eve and her sisters is New Year’s Eve. Mine is mid January, I always wanted a summer bday.
@Oldelvis @Star2236 @werehatrack My BDay is a few days after New Years. When I was growing up my Godmother (friend of my parents) always made an event of my 1/2-year birthday in July. I really liked it and we all agreed it was unfair that people who have birthdays around Christmas and New Years “lose” their special day. Plus, if you are like 7 years old, 7 1/2 is a big jump percentage-wise.
@Oldelvis @pmarin @Star2236 My daughter does that; hers is Dec 25th. I couldn’t get anybody behind the idea for mine, and I wasn’t too thrilled about it myself, anyway. Once I had it drilled into me that my birthday did not matter at all, the concept of also having it ignored at some other time of year just did not appeal all that much - and that was what I expected would happen. It may not be rational, but even after all this time, discussing the idea still puts me into an emotional nosedive. Treating my birthday as something that does not exist is my best defense mechanism.
As any retail worker knows, Christmas is just the beginning. Next is return season.
Where’s the ‘It doesn’t really matter because I’m alone this Christmas’ option?
@Tadlem43
@Tadlem43
@sicc574 @Tadlem43
Well fortunately I’ve got NO Christmas tree to hang myself from!
WHAT A TERRIBLE SONG!!
I have family and I have friends so I’ve really got nothing to complain about!
Being alone is a state of mind and I just thank my lucky stars that I’m not feeling that awful kind of depression that I still can remember all to well!
Prayers, hugs and smiles for anyone who’s feeling down and/or needs them!
@Lynnerizer @Tadlem43 I’ve felt this way every Christmas since my ex-wife took my kids and moved out of state without telling me…
@Lynnerizer @sicc574 I’m so sorry. That’s horrible!
I’ve been alone for years. It doesn’t seem to get easier. I hope the day passes quickly for you and you can find some joy!
Merry Christmas!
@sicc574 @Tadlem43
OMG that’s awful of her, I’m so sorry! Good thing kids are resilient and thank goodness for video chat, at least that’s better than nothing or just a phone call.
Karma always has a way coming back around so please don’t let your ex wife’s inner ugliness be contagious or dim your light. One of these days when she’s least expecting it karma will find her!
Yay, it’s almost over.
Option C: Meh. One week until Christmas.
Mixed: Two weeks not having to work, then dealing with being two weeks behind at work.
@hchavers Followed shortly thereafter by Chinese New Year when you still can’t get anything done for about a month.
If it weren’t for my kids, I wouldn’t be too bothered either way, I don’t think. Though it’s probably not too long until I have some grandkids to really get me excited for the holidays again!
@goodjuju My partner has grandkids; quite a few, in fact. He and his second-youngest daughter spent the majority of the day acquiring a few last-minute things, wrapping the many presents, and boxing some to ship off tomorrow. I acted as chauffeur and otherwise stayed the hell out of the way.
I don’t have to dread Christmas. I dread the whole damn holiday season.
THIS. IS. MEH!
@unksol I second that.
In my silly business (radio) I need to plan, record and provide “content” well in advance. My weekend show hits 12/24 12/25 this year, so the pressure was on. But it is all done, and now I can chill. Used the 1946 RADIO version of “It’s A Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart.
Christmas smithmous it’s not my holidays
@Cerridwyn But I suspect you’ll make the sacrifice to take the paid time off.
@tweezak
Most places dont give you an option.
@tweezak Actually, at my first job, I always volunteered to take the Xmas shift and get the extra pay. Double-time-and-a-half with something to do, in a place where there was little to remind me of the date, was better than being at home.
@Cerridwyn @tweezak Right. I’d be happy to trade those days for others.
@Cerridwyn @fondaporn @tweezak @werehatrack
who am I kidding it’s been a shit show my whole life with my parents spouses and their son) So instead of having to deal with THAT I’d always volunteer for the holidays (prime time shifts) so others could be with their family and children.
My parents divorced (swapped partners with their best friends) when I was 17-18 and it was kind of messy for a while. (Lol
There’s that ONE family member sibling that without fail every year…. Has to ask: “Why did you get me this?
2 minutes after unwrapping her present. I can hear it coming…
Which is why that person is the hardest person to shop for in my family…
@AZnatural1 Gift cards and cash are always the right size and usually a good fit! Jus sayen…!
And if put inside one of those puzzle thingys that should shut her up for a few minutes anyway. Lol 
@AZnatural1 People like that, I just ask them to make a wish list that I can shop from, or give me a list of places they’d be able to use a gift card to. I like to put a lot of thought into the gifts I buy, so getting that response would be really deflating.
@AZnatural1 Lump of coal. Once size fits all.
My family has gone through a bunch of stuff in the past two years that mean Christmas will never be the same as it was. We went from having a wonderful day at my parents’ house to trying to find a restaurant that is open so we can have dinner and open our gifts there.
Last year, I was in charge of finding a place, and it was so stressful, even though my brother and SIL called a lot of places too. We called something like 50 places before we found a place. This year, the arrangements are better, but it’s still not the same. It was such a drastic change and so sudden that I’m still having a hard time with it.
All that was to say I’m not especially looking forward to it.
I’m in Savannah, Georgia, more than halfway from my home in Virginia to the “home” I’ve never lived in in Tampa. Every year as my parents get older, this trip gets more and more important.
@kostia I LOVED my visit to Savannah this summer for the first time ever and being in the low country of SC and in the SouthEast. Visited Tybee and truly never saw anything more beautiful than being on the driftwood beach on Jekyll Island during those storms the week before 4th of July. Left my heart on a Georgia beach vowing to return one day!
Planes and trains…
To accommodate the varied schedules of our 4 kids, we did the family Christmas celebration two weeks ago. So the pressure is off and the actual holiday will be a pretty low key affair with just me, my wife and possibly her parents. Sweet!