Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Heading into the Fray



Here they come, the December holidays. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, Festivus, or any other, these special celebrations usually involve getting together with large family groups, eating good food, and giving gifts.

How fun! How stressful! I attend a monthly meeting of caregivers. All of us are caring for loved ones with some sort of dementia (and I never realized how many different kinds there are before finding this group). The meeting this month emphasized making it through the minefield of the winter holidays intact. This can be done by caring for the caregiver (right, easy to say), but also by listening to the afflicted loved one and making sure he or she isn’t overwhelmed. OK, making sure neither of us is overwhelmed!

I guess the best way to do that is to simplify. When we both retired and started to (try to) live on social security, we cut down on the amount per kid and grandkid, but there’s more that can be done.

I honestly didn’t want to put up a tree this year, but Hubby wants to. So I’ll listen to him, help him put it up, and decorate it. He actually wants to put up two! We bought a new one last year and neglected to throw the old one away…so I guess we could have two, if I can figure out where to put them!

My usual Christmas letters will go into envelopes, skipping the cards. That seems to make sense. I’ve already mailed out the overseas packages and make fudge and peanut brittle for them. No one stateside seems to appreciate those two items like I do, so maybe I won’t make any more. Lindt truffles are awfully good.

Hubby and I won’t get each other gifts beyond the new patio and the oak tree that was taken down. That about shot THAT budget.

The best part of this Christmas is that I have exactly one deadline, December 16th, and when that’s over, I can relax and have a good time. Unless I work on STROKE. Or some short stories. Or the third book in the Carraway series, or the Neanderthal People of the Wind series. Stop me before I ruin the holiday!



4 comments:

  1. So far, I'm looking forward to December :) No party at my place this year. Made everyone give me their list early. I could wrap and be done this week! Whoa.
    I am not making cards or likely sending any at all this year. I love making them but don't think they're particularly appreciated so I will bake instead and do some enjoyable crafting for myself.
    Ho Ho Ho.

    ReplyDelete
  2. There was a time when I made my own cards from my own photographs, baked cookies for days, wrapped presents instead of using gift bags--and this was when I had three little children. I think I hadn't found my OFF switch. I do a lot of gift cards now!

    Glad you're on the ball!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm glad you'll be able to relax over the holidays. And if your husband wants two Christmas trees, that's what he should have. You can't have too many Christmas trees unless you have cats.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree! Although he's better at putting up than taking down. Now to figure out where to put an extra tree!

    ReplyDelete