I relate to you , as many members of my family have
passed away so its tough having to be the last person
standing . And being youngest if you have a small family
for yourself makes it kinda worse . I'm talking about people
who have just one child that child grows up to have to also
stand alone so I am all for large families . In some cases where
the saying you can pick your friends but not family can sometimes
turn out to be the best as sometimes friends are like family to people.
Sending you lots of hugs ((((((((((((((((( Haley Hugs))))))))))))))

Angela

Yes, tears and memories keep those alive in our hearts is right - and each year the pain will transform into somewhat less pain, fewer tears and more good memories.....



Summer

They are off to college and living in their own places now.  They are doing very well.  But I miss the days when they were with me everyday.

My family is spread out all over the United States, Germany and Scotland.  I miss them all the time.  But it seems I miss them even more around this time of year.  It's hard not to become somewhat melancholy during the holidays.  

Like you, I have lost family members and friends.  I will join in on the group hug!  Thanks Haley.  Love, Betty xoxo

To all of you Merry Christmas or if you please Happy Holidays. My wife passed away 2 years ago and thankfully I have my children close by. Christmas has been a sad holiday for years now and the friends I have made in the hobby are a constant reminder that life must go on. I have four providers that I will call friends as we talk on the phone or email every day. I am living my second childhood. I intend to die worn out and happy.

It's a sad fact of life that as we get older, many of us don't  have the sort of holidays we might wish for.  And the worst part is the more we compare ourselves to the idealized image of the holiday, the worse it can make us feel as we come up short.

Whether through distance, loss of loved ones, or just life and circumstances getting in the way, many of us find ourselves alone, or without many of the people we love during holidays.  All I can tell you is there are a lot of us in the same situation.  

I used to wonder who would watch a football or basketball game on a holiday when you had a house full of friends and relatives to keep you entertained.  Well, now I know who- me.  I never appreciated having a house full of people for Thanksgiving or Christmas until they went away.  This year, for example, I waxed my car on Thanksgiving, and I probably won't do much better on Christmas; certainly not the way I remember holidays from years past.

I think the feelings you described are one of the most difficult aspects of getting older, and something we all experience it to varying degrees.   So do your best to keep your spirits high.  

Since I'm now routinely finding myself in this situation at holidays, I've started trying to do something for someone else that I wouldn't ordinarily do, just to get my mind off myself and to give a little to someone else.  It doesn't have to be a big deal.  This week, for example, I put in a few hours work to help out a guy that's having a serious back problem and can barely walk.  I ran some errands for him, took out a half dozen trash cans, bought him some groceries, etc.  It made me feel a little better, and I know it really helped him.  So while I may still be alone, it's my way of celebrating the spirit of the holiday.

have passed on and I basically sequester myself on the holidays and keep to myself.