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OneMoreTime · 12-03-2006, 10:19 PM

Tim and Barb --- I had to laugh like mad at "the Universe's way of getting the floors clean", because that's how I looked at it!!!

I seem to remember telling about the sugar and eggs falling off the fridge that time ... and once the kitchen sink overflowing (not a drip, either).. both in the same rent house, both within a span of a few months to a year.

and for that matter, in one of our homes, we TWICE had our hot water tank break (the inner glass liner), and once a broken water line to the ice-maker --- I gotta tell you, waking up to a lake your house 3 times in less than 5 years is a REAL TRIP!!

And I second what Barb was talking about concerning the Xmas stuff with your "family".

DO plan to spend some other day --- MANY families do the "weekend previous" for the togetherness thing, then Christmas Day as they wish... Or Christmas Eve for dinner and gifts - arrive about 4pm (after 3, anyway).

Or I saw an advice columnist suggest, just this week, that a woman and her sons tell her parents that they made other plans for the rest of the day, but would come by for a Christmas breakfast to have coffee (and something they could carry over) when they could exchange gifts. After a pre-ordained time, you take your leave.

I have thought of scouting out shelters or charities in a nearby city that might be hosting Christmas Dinner for the homeless or the living alone. (they are often on a separate day, not actually Xmas). Welcoming others, smiling, rubbing elbows in the serving line with people like me - people who would otherwise be sitting home alone. It would get my mind off the fact of being alone, for I have only been grudgingly accepted at "family events" for years. I will have to start a thread about the psychological underpinnings, the REASON families need their scapegoats.

Of course, even if I end up staying home again, it no longer bothers me or saddens me in the least .. and I don't even get drunk. I smile and am happy that I am not trying to smile and pretend I have a warm loving family when not ONE of them is truly capable of loving anyone - not even themselves.

If I want, I can roast that turkey (they are still 79cents a pound to 1.09/pound at the local market) stuffed and stuffed and stuffed with sage dressing full of thinly sliced and blanched celery. And if the turkey is not injected with broth, I "self baste" by taking every last bit of fat and inserting it under the breast skin.

Then cranberries, freshly made. and I make the BEST turkey gravy. I am totally awesome (even if I can't fly!

).... then when the turkey cools, I strip the carcass, bagging the meat in freezer bags, the white meat ready for sandwiches and the dark and small pieces for casseroles. There is NOTHING in the world like turkey tetrazinni!!!

So within an hour, there is no big bird to wedge, always inadequately covered, into the fridge. I used to do at least 3 turkeys a year.

Movie theatres are open Christmas afternoon and they do a booming business that day.... but I hate attending movies alone.

Forgive me so for rattling on and on.... especially since I will probably have a Marie Callendar turkey pot pie.... a homemade pumpkin pie. And maybe even a bottle of champagne or a nice white... But not too much alcohol - that is only good for ensuring the blues and depression. But I will be happy - as happy as I can be - by sitting here at the keyboard, keeping people company. Actually, as usually happens, forgetting totally what day it is. Wondering where everyone else is.

I have tried to find, in years past, someone else in this small town who was going to be alone at Xmas - or even Thanksgiving. But EVERYONE said they would be with family. How can that be? I KNOW there are more screwed up families than you can shake a stick at.... so that means that people choose to be miserable and unsatisfied and all stressed ----->>>> so they can maintain the fantasy of "our family".

I'd much rather be here. So stop by and say hi
Teri