Sea Venture Resort

How different are the holidays going to be this year?

In the past year I've been blessed with 2 beautiful grand sons, watched my daughter go through an ugly, unexpected divorce, and lost a few loved ones. I'm also watching family and friends have to reorganize their lives because of the economic situation. My holidays are going to be different in a lot of ways. Are things much different for you this year?

Public Comments

1. Reminds me of the Johnny Cash song " I'm Busted" At the beginning of fall it was looking encouraging. And then our daughter got laid off from her job, No unemployment ins, so far they take their own sweet time, and now we have to use the money intended for Christmas, To help with her car payment, and car insurance and the expense to move her back home here, She lives over 200 miles away
2. Money is going to be tighter this year, but I think that's o.k. we will go back to the true meaning of Christmas and try not to worry about all the commercialism of Christmas. We still have our family and big dinner,
3. mine will be the same -- everybody takes off for branson over thanksgiving and i will tend to all the animals -- christmas will be same - to many worthless gifts -- food and not enough love and warm!!!
4. We are going to visit our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter who is three. The whole family will be together at this time. We can't spend a lot on gifts because we have travel and hotel expenses. Just being together is a gift enough.
5. Yes, lost one family member, gone through a surgery that required some co pays we really didn't have the money for. Economy plays a big part. With gas prices lowering, we are going to be going back home for the holidays, IF they don't get back up to the three and four dollar prices. Christmas presents are going to be on the meek side this year, but at least we will all be together, and still thankful my dad is well and with all of us. I think this happens to most families with losses, divorces and illness. One thing about it, unless you are rich financially, we are all in this together. I'm pullin for ya katydid, and how fortunate you are to have two new additions to your family. Children make the holidays special.
6. My family continues to dwindle. I lost my mother this year, so that's another empty chair at the dinner table. We've decided that we won't even set the table this year. We'll do a buffet and let folks eat where they wish. Too many empty chairs. As far as gifts, we're cutting back again. Gifts only for the children this year, and these will be chosen very carefully because there won't be as many. On the bright side, we will spend more time together this year, which is what's really important.
7. At Christmas I would get together with my Daughters family for Christmas Day .My husband and myself and her Husbands Mother who has been a widow for many years .Christmas 2006 my husband was rushed in to Hospital and died the day after Christmas day of a massive Heart Attack ,earlier this year Her Mother in Law had a massive heart Attack and died ,Neither had been to the doctors even ,This year I am all they have left of the older generation ,and I feel lonely its a very strange feeling for Me and them ,I am trying to look forward to it ,But For obvious reasons Christmas brings it back ,But we have 4 Children 9 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren and I am sure they will all make Christmas very special
8. They will be a ... solitary thing.... pretty much a solo "event". I always wondered about those guys that starred vacantly out the window... well now I at least understand it. Fortunately for me I will be gaming on the computer... much better than a window at least... so that's something.
9. Just taking one at a time. Will have family together and be thankful for what we have. Who knows what the future holds? Just enjoy this day and all it brings.
10. Pretty much the same as last year, one gift for each grandchild and get together for a big meal. I have to work the day before thanksgiving and the day after. Also christmas eve and christmas day .
11. We've lost a few family members but we've had a few new additions as well. So it kind of balances out...kind of. This will be the first holiday season without my children at home. But we'll still share love and smiles. Good times are ahead...I still do believe.
12. Slim to none
13. This year will be especially hard, as it will be the first Christmas without my mom, who passed away in June.
14. Well we lost 2 nieces and a nephew in a horrific car accident they were killed by a street racer. My 1 niece was 8 months pregnant. We won't be having a big Christmas get together at my inlaws like we usually do..but my husband and my daughters will have Christmas at my house for my 3 year old granndaughter. She doesn't know what's going on with her cousins she doesn' t really understand . It's so sad ...
15. With family budgets already strained, I'm sure more people will be re- thinking their gift buying. While some may just be content with a family dinner that will bring everyone together. Unless there are small children, the strain shouldn't be so bad on adults. Getting together just to share food and drink and conversation, is what it's all about as far as celebrating anyway. And being thankful, that they still have family members to share the day with. All too quickly we begin to lose our relatives, until we are the elders. And if our children prefer to celebrate in their own way, often, the elder couples are by themselves, sharing a turkey roast, instead of a big bird. And that isn't so bad,if they have alot of their favorite side dishes, and a special dessert, to mark the day if they are staying home. But when there are children involved, naturally they don't understand why they were short changed by Santa. So there should be an effort to have one stand out gift from their list of wants, to brighten their eyes and hearts on Christmas morning. I remember my mother telling me how poor their family was during the depression in North Dakota. And so often they worried there wouldn't be any money for anything for Christmas, let alone from Santa. But they would put their socks out and they were never let down. There weren't any toys, as my grandparents were frugal people and poor besides. But they saw to it that all five of their little girls, had a handful of nuts, an orange and an apple and a couple pieces of wrapped candy to enjoy Christmas Day. That may not seem like much. But for a family where the children never got any treats, this was a wonderful celebration. My grandma would make some dough and sprinkle sugar on it and bake them all twisted and those would be like Christmas cookies would to any other boy and girl. It was a sweet treat, that they rarely got to indulge in. And it meant the world to them. I'm sure there will be alot of disa- pointed children this year. But maybe it will be a good time to re intro- duce them to what the season is all about. In helping others and loving them as well. Even if people aren't religious, there is still that holiday spirit of being kind and warm to others. And giving of yourself, to those who are in more need than yourself, or your children. I feel more fam- ilies will discover the true meanings that Christmas represents. And as that result, it will perhaps be a Christmas they will remember that meant more to them, than a pile of presents would.