BlogHer - thanksgiving - Comments

I can relate with you.

misskat7 — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:23:42 -0500

My daughter is in prison too and like you I worried myself sick not knowing of her whereabouts.Or if she was even alive.She lost 3 beautiful sons to wonderful families and I am raising the oldest 1 he is 15 he is a precious youngman and I would be lost without him.So I understand where you are coming from God bless you and your family, Kathy

great post, Laurie

bizzywomen — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:20:11 -0600

THERE is no question that divorce and the holidays don't always mix well, but it's also an oppotunity to create new holilday traditions. I just heard a podcast off the Moth where the speaker describes his parents divorce centered around a Thanksgiving dinner where a farm cow knocks the father over into the mother's cherished crystal collection. The mother created a new tradition in the family of serving fresh, hot veal for the holidays!

A punk-rock acorn tree!

lauriewrites — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:54:44 -0600

Fun fun fun.

I love your comment and I do think that a lot of the stress of any holiday or tradition can be expectations. Removing them when and where it makes sense can be good.

My birthday is the 27th which can add a bit of stress as well...too much stuff in one week. But Italian night is a grand idea. I may borrow that. :)

Laurie

LaurieWrites

I hope you have a good day anyway.

lauriewrites — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:47:27 -0600

I do think that even with the two of you there are likely things you can come up with that feel like "tradition" even if, especially if, it's..."anti-traditional." Eating something totally un-Christmasy as far as your families are concerned or just hanging out and watching particular movies. I told my mom a bit ago, hey, why don't we just do filet Mignon or something for Christmas instead of turkey, just for fun? ;)

I know it can feel lonely but staying in good touch and finding friends to have a nice "extended family" dinner with on Thanksgiving and, to a lesser extent, Easter, were ways I coped when I lived in Ohio and couldn't make it home. I always REALLY appreciated the people who welcomed me into their homes on holidays...even if it was 4th of July, which, for whatever reason, is a big family day for us.

Laurie

LaurieWrites

No tradition tradition

KLinnea — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:25:21 -0600

It makes a lot of sense not to let "forced fun" take over. We did just that a few years ago and have never looked back. Christmas dinner is discussed in plenty of time, to decide what and how we'd like it. Last year was homemade pesto and ice cream, this year lamb and almond cake. Then we decide on a tree or not, usually we want one and go to pick it out. This years tree looks rather punk with acorns all over it. My mother, bless her, said I can do studying on Christmas day at her apartment, if that's what I need. A friend is coming over for Italian and Valpolicella on the 28 og December. Christmas is going to be good!

Have fun!

http://madhattersapprentice.blogspot.com/

I would love to see my sister for Christmas!

kazari — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:06:10 -0600

But instead, my husband and I will be celebrating mostly by ourselves. I have to say, for someone from a big family, that feels pretty lonely. And it's hard to think of traditions that make sense for two.

At different times, we've had to sacrifice family celebrations, parents never mind much. There's always next year!

That was mostly why I did it, Zan.

lauriewrites — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:08:34 -0600

My parents came to visit me once on Thanksgiving when I lived in Ohio and it was pretty cool to have them make the effort and be on my turf for the holidays. I wanted to do the same for my sister...She puts some great effort into her celebrations and I knew it would be a special thing. I like when I'm right. :)I also got to go with her to the class she teaches at SDSU and go to Southern California wine country so it was a pretty stellar weekend all in all. :) So glad I did it. Wreaked a bit of havoc on my final few weeks of grad school but all in all worth it.

Laurie

LaurieWrites

Even though I'm sure your

Zandria — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:43:21 -0600

Even though I'm sure your family here on the east coast missed you, I'll bet it was even more special to your sister that you traveled so far to see her. I've lived far away from my immediate family on a few holidays, and I've always had to be the one to travel to THEM if I wanted to see anyone. :)

Personal blog: Zandria.us
BlogHer blog: Singles/Fitness

Eat & Drink More Purple Things!

Shareen McCaffrey — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:18:03 -0600

I resolve to Eat & Drink More Purple Things! Red wines, berries, and things. One of natures remedies for living a long life, and to improve fitness!

I've been posting turkey

jlraynes — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:07:41 -0600

I've been posting turkey leftover recipes on my blog all week! I'm starting to get tired of turkey though!

Jenn

Jenn's Journal
No Lemon Juice

ExPat Thanksgiving in Guangzhou, China

MissXu — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:01:19 -0600

I was woefully unprepared, having landed just days before Thanksgiving. What happened?

It's here: apologies that the link isn't particularly pretty! :)

http://whetdigest.blogs.com/skip_the_grid/2008/11/homesickness-in-the-form-of-an-oven.html

Expat Thanksgiving in Munich

zurika — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:10:22 -0600

We spent last night at the Hard Rock Cafe with a group of American friends - eating a strange version of Thanksgiving food.

-Jul

This non-American Life

Got to the point where I was

Melissa Ford — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:22:19 -0600

Got to the point where I was ready to explode tonight and practiced micro-thankfulness. Reaching and stretching to find that thankfulness, but calming down as I find it.

Venting about infertility since 2006
www.stirrup-queens.blogspot.com
and we're not talkin' cowgirls...

That was really beautifully

Melissa Ford — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:20:28 -0600

That was really beautifully put--and I'm just wishing you peace of heart right now.

Venting about infertility since 2006
www.stirrup-queens.blogspot.com
and we're not talkin' cowgirls...

Micro Thankfulness gets me through the day

fragrantfuture — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:13:54 -0600

This was a great post and a great topic that I think gets overlooked alot. We get so busy with our lives that we can often end up feeling like your twins... like we just want to wale and scream and trantrum. We have a habit of letting it all build up until it explodes. I used to have that problem in a big way (still do, but not so big). Micro-thankfulness, as you put it, is one of the ways I have learned to smile more often, realize that things happen that are out of our control, and while we may not win the lottery, we really do have much to be thankful for.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts; I think it is a perfect lesson for Thanksgiving.

Wishing you a Wonderful Day,
Corinne Brueckner
Gourmet Candle Store : www.corinnescandles.com
My Candle Business Blog: http://www.fragrantfuture.com/blog