Well if you look at it THAT way....
Your NOT alone. We're all here with common interests.
Try signing onto AW.org in 1970. NO you say. There was no internet to connect people, well.....
You have to consider what Christmas was originally. And yeah, when we compare the way it's spent today, versus 30+ years back, one might see it as disappointing. But that's not relevant.
Christmas was originally a time to get together with "family" to celebrate and socialize, like other holidays. Back 'when', there were few opportunities to socialize BETWEEN the holidays. No email, no TV, no Twitter or texting, no on line anything, no phones, or limited usage. So Holidays were a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">necessity.</span>
We've surpassed that. The only people keeping alive the 'Holidays' are merchants. As the Christmas and Thanksgiving continues to dwindle in importance, so too will the effort made in the media to remind us of it.
Frankly, I've extracted from Christmas the best parts: the memories of past, Christmas lights, and some old recipes (and recipe books). And these things are not just for Dec. 25th and a few days leading up to it. They are all year round. My Chrismas light collection is as vast as my appliance collection, and just as decorative.
If I happen to get invited to something, I might consider going, but, as others have said, it can be a hassle.
This year, like others here, I'm caring for aging parents. They still like to do the traditional stuff and are inviting some relatives over , blah, blah.... with young kids.
At Thanksgiving, I did good. I made a big thing of mashed potatoes, and apple pie and 2 pumpkin pies. Also helped coordinate and cleanup.
I'll do the same for Christmas, because I know it makes them happy. I even bought small presents for the kids. I was hoping the relatives would have their get together at their house(s) ... and I could make an excuse not to participate.
Yeah, It's been..... years, decades since I've done "Holidays" with anyone. And I've been happy as can be.
As was said above, there are those who are deeply involved with these traditional "get together" type thingees, and they'd rather NOT be. I don't know how the breeder ladies do it. Especially if they've spawned 3 or more kids. Exhaustion upon exhaustion.
Best type Christmas: sleeping in, in your own comfy bed, light music playing or just quiet, you know that Holiday type quiet from lack of bustle outside. I nice light snow, or any snow. The house nice and toasty at 72 degrees with humidifier keeping the air just right. Christmas lights on, set at the medium level on the dimmer switch. Yeah, that's about it.
This year my mother is making her (I don't know the correct spelling) 'shom-torte' and several hundred frosted butter horns . Which is always good. It uses like a dozen eggs, strawberries, probably 5 cups of sugar.... its an artery clogger but, heah.
I've told her, since she doesn't seem to have the recipe written down in her library of recipes, I'm going to film her making it.
We'll see.
Anyway, you have family here, and no doubt on other electronic mediums, those of which you don't have to be limited to socializing just once or twice a year. Nothing to be sad about.
