I KNOW that my family are ingrats, and dysfunctional doesnt begin to describe it. I know my drug addicted sis wont send me a thing, but I have managed to send HER children a present every Christmas and Bday for all of their lives. The oldest is now 27 and in 3 years I have not gotten a thank you. the youngest is 14 and no thank you from him in 3 years. My bible thumping brothers wont bother to give to you unless you give them a letter to take it off their taxes. I havent gotten a how are you call in a long time. I stopped calling them last year. My mom has post polio syndrome so I didnt expect much from her, until I found that she went out and bought my sis a NEW stove! She cant swing by the post office and fling a card in the in the box? My aunts have long since forgotten that I am alive, even tho they always get bday cards, and Ccards each year. My DD and DS are off playing with their friends. DH and I are sitting here scratching our heads and neither of us understand.

for 23 years I have made sure that HIS side has bday and Cday cards. Presents for graduations, christenings, weddings, and the like. This year I sat him down and had HIM write out the cards. He was amazed how much work goes into sending out that many cards.

I dunno, I see how commercial things have gotten. Folks dont slow down anymore to say thank you. or Bless you. or can I help you. nope, its all gimme, gimme, gimme. When I was growing up we counted on donations, and food pantries. My sis now says thats for stupid people to volunteer at. I raised my kids to donate, both time, money, and items. Both admitted recently that they havent been near a place to volunteer all year. DH used to set up and help run several things, and this year he has sat on his duff and whined about money.

Its not the christmas present or the christmas card I seek, its the christmas spirit. Where did it go?