tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306087450570351277.post3610457711606778033..comments2024-03-27T13:48:55.850-04:00Comments on HOLLER NOTES: CELEBRATING CHRISTMASGary Cardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487971272055031915noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306087450570351277.post-16798533565456012982013-12-24T04:24:58.675-05:002013-12-24T04:24:58.675-05:00Happy Christmas, Gary, and a healthy and powerful ...Happy Christmas, Gary, and a healthy and powerful coming year.annenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306087450570351277.post-22655725287392308892013-12-04T17:41:43.003-05:002013-12-04T17:41:43.003-05:00Gary, you do say what you mean to say very well! ...Gary, you do say what you mean to say very well! And actually, although I have no sibs, aunts, uncles, or cousins by the dozen anywhere, and it's just me and my still-single son for holidays, I don't feel nearly as defeated by it as I thought I would when I first tread this path. Fond memories of my grands putting my Santy Claus gifts under a cedar we cut on the farm, and the open fireplace burning brightly in the room are still with me, but I've pared down my expectations of Christmases of today. Lavish gifts are not even an issue, we have a nice meal, do decorate the house, and it's a peaceful day. Seems someone's always telling me how they dread to see certain of their relatives they can't stand, which dampens my ardor to have a big group around shouting at football games and cheers me is some twisted way! I hope you gather a group, lift glasses bigtime, and remember it's only one day long anyway. Annenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306087450570351277.post-71004725275210763772013-11-27T17:57:36.274-05:002013-11-27T17:57:36.274-05:00It would probably work. I remember the response t...It would probably work. I remember the response to a "Grinch Club" last year took me by surprise and lots of people came up with ideas. Should it be for Thanksgiving and Christmas......or both........or is it a New Year party? I just saw Reverend Billy again and he is still refreshing with his exorcism of credit cards and chanting "Stop Shopping." More power to him.<br />Gary Cardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17487971272055031915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306087450570351277.post-65308711163306085452013-11-27T06:32:28.586-05:002013-11-27T06:32:28.586-05:00Your Grinch Club outing sounds intriguing. Maybe y...Your Grinch Club outing sounds intriguing. Maybe you could gather at a community room or church hall -- somewhere you could all be inside and it would feel more like a "get together." I'm all for restoring a sense of family and belonging as in the yesteryears.sandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17355232032181406759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306087450570351277.post-74591475698549001502013-11-26T23:23:52.306-05:002013-11-26T23:23:52.306-05:00Thank you, Glenda. Fortunately, I have a few frie...Thank you, Glenda. Fortunately, I have a few friends and somehow, we always manage to find each other at this time of year. Some are former students and some are old friends. None are family. We can still talk a good game and can spend time comparing notes on books and movies.<br />It is always a great experience and makes me wonder why we don't do it more often, regardless of holidays.Gary Cardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17487971272055031915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306087450570351277.post-86859619602211402282013-11-25T21:46:35.441-05:002013-11-25T21:46:35.441-05:00Gary,, I remember those wonderful family times as ...Gary,, I remember those wonderful family times as well, but life changes and death takes our loved ones eventually. Like you, I no longer have a Christmas tree and do very little decorating, but I will not let time take my Christmas spirit. I don't participate in Black Friday shopping and can't afford to give many or lavish gifts. I have no children, have lost almost all of my brothers and sisters, but I still have friends who have been in my life for decades. We will celebrate Thanksgiving at a restaurant, then gather at my house to talk and enjoy being together. My sister is coming to be with us. At Christmas we gather at her house and share inexpensive gifts we order from catalogs. The fun is opening the gifts, not how much money they cost. This year I will travel further than usual to share Christmas dinner with nieces who live south of Atlanta. I am determined that I will not give up celebrating Christmas even though it will never be like it was when we were young. Your writing is lovely, as usual. Thanks for commenting on Writers Circle Facebook page.Glenda Beallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17953170428175025248noreply@blogger.com