So, we went to my brother-in-law’s for Thanksgiving dinner, bringing along my mother and sister and huge quantities of food including an Un-Turkey. The Un-Turkey was for my sister. She felt we should bring the whole thing so she could share. Every year she’s sure someone else will want to try it. Every year, no one does.
Upon arrival we learned that a relative was hovering at death’s door. It was an aunt of my husbands - the families lived next door to one another until Florida sucked them in. We thought she’d come through a recent surgery just fine, but there were complications. It was a sad but classic case of “The operation was a success but the patient died.” They took her off life support the day after Thanksgiving. And it really was sad. Her husband, children and grandchildren are going to miss her very much. It was way too soon, too.
We spent Monday and Tuesday commuting between work and the wake and Wednesday was the funeral. Returning to normal life I found the following:
- In two days 72 message had appeared in my spam folder. That’s in the e-mail account that I use and check every day. I’m afraid to look at the others.
- Some as yet uncounted (and undeleted) spam comments have been posted to this blog. This is becoming a constant annoyance. I don’t have time to moderate in a timely manner and I certainly don’t have time to deal with this. It makes me think that maybe I should just do this whole thing on Blogger.
- I have a newsletter to take apart and post parts of to an organization’s site. Also still working on the band’s redesign. I think I’m onto something. Now I have to put it together in a less rough draft.
- Huge piles of laundry accumulated. Clothing multiplies in the hamper, but then makes itself scarce when you’re looking for something to wear. There is no way we could worn the number of items that were in the hamper. In fact, I don’t think we own that many.
- My holiday to-do lists have grown to frightening proportions. I have to attack them this weekend. They’ll probably attack right back.
I have to confess something. The thing I like best about the holiday season is when it’s over. I don’t have time enough in the day to live my normal life at the pace I would like. Providing holiday cheer is really too much to ask.
So, semi-hiatus has probably begun again.
I hope you made some impact on that to-do list. It’s awful that you have to feel this way when you only just got through the stress of Thanksgiving. It’s a pity that so many women come to dread the celebration of Christmas because of all the extra work and stress it brings. For those without families, the feelings of loneliness are heightened, and for those with children, who are struggling financially, either they worry about their children being disadvantaged - or see their debts increasing. My feelings at this time of the year are always tinged with sadness for those who are finding it hard.
Like you, I always look forward to January 2nd when life can return to ‘normal’ again.
Comment by Jude — December 4, 2005 @ 3:58 am