Either unmarried or no kids.

I may be headed that way.

I really don't enjoy the holidays with family and work colleagues. Spending them alone sounds like a good idea.

Half of my family are Repubs and I can't have conversations with them (they always turn to politics).

Several years ago my wife informed me that we were having Thanksgiving dinner with her brother and his wife. "Okay," I said and went out to purchase a bottle of wine, a family tradition on my side. Well, just as we were getting ready to leave, my wife says, "Oh, they don't want any alcoholic consumption at Thanksgiving dinner." I said, "WHAT?!! Why not?" "Her parents will be there and they don't approve of the consumption of alcohol, so my brother has asked that no one bring any liquor."

So I grudgingly cooperated. Well, we get to their house and here's her dad sitting on the couch watching sports with the sound off! What's up with this? What a boring way to spend Thanksgiving. Sitting on the couch with strangers who are not talking watching a game on the TV with no sound.

Then I really don't like the "Norman Rockwell" version of Thanksgiving. You know, everything under the sun is placed on the table. Everyone gorges themselves. Huge mess in the kitchen.

Several years ago, I talked everyone into having a Thanksgiving dinner that resembled the original Pilgrims'. We had clam chowder, a small turkey, squash, onions, and pumpkin pudding. I loved it! But no one else did. So now it's back to a Rockwell Thanksgiving.

Christmas is the same experience: Lots of crappy "food" (HFCS, hydrogenated oils, artificial ingredients and coloring, growth hormones, etc); family or work colleagues I neither care to see or with whom to visit; fucking sports on the TV; fucking anything on TV; spending money on "presents" that might not be appreciated; and a lot of small talk!

If it were up to me, I'd have Thanksgiving and Christmas like the Pilgrams and early Christians would have had had they known better:
Single-malt scotch followed by a cabernet or IPA;
Chet Baker or Nat King Cole on the stereo;
A meal I really want to eat, like veggie Pad Tai or shrimp tacos;
A good movie at home;
A nightcap like espresso with a touch of rum;
Then off to bed...

I'm having one right now!

A good movie makes everything better!

Lagavulin!



...or Macallan,
...or Speyburn

To paraphrase Will Rogers, "I never met a single-malit scotch I didn't like!"

edited to add: And very few movies can beat "Treasure of the Sierra Madre!"

Problem it its almost TOO good and its very easy to swill too much of it.

Last edited Sat Dec 17, 2011, 12:44 PM - Edit history (1)

"It's better to swill it than spill it!"

But a man's got to know his limitations!

But then, I used to believe the best wine in the liquore store were the labels in the cooler! I mean, wouldn't the best wines be kept chilled? Man, did I ever learn a lesson!

(in addition to working on Black Friday). We'd planned to go out to dinner and then go see the new Muppet movie.

Maybe tomorrow..

But actually, the movies were between a short family morning and Christmas evening dinner with friends.
These days I have only one sibling left and we rarely talk even though we're only minutes apart.
If the weather's good, I cycle.

I had a screaming match with the oldest (him at me) about politics 25 years ago and that was that. Now he's 81 and apparently is holing up in his house and never goes out.

The other one has nothing to do with any of us. Lives in the past and is still bitter about things that happened 50 years ago. Our household was rather "rough and ready" with 3 boys running around and the oldest always picked on the younger and the two of them often ganged up on him and he wasn't the type that could just let it roll off his back.

regarding big families. Not that three kids is even "big". My father had seven siblings. I had two. My mother had none. In some ways she had the worst deal. Her dad ran off with the dance teacher and ended up committing suicide.

But family or no, people are just people. I have cousins with 10 kids (of my generation) in their family and thick or thin, good or bad they stick together. A great family culture, which I always point out, and they're tired of my saying it.

so that people with families could have the day off. It was not that noble a gesture, as it also got me/husband out of going to the family dinner, lol. Sorry folks, I have to work that day. Christmas day was only a half work day, but I always did the same thing. Worked the half day then went to the dinner later, so at least it wasn't a whole day. And my family is ok, no fighting, problems etc. I just don't want to spend that much time in a house packed with people, and noise. There is usually so much commotion you can hardly do any visiting if you want to.

These days my family doesn't do a big Thanksgiving any more. With all the kids growing up and having their own kids, most have their celebrations at their homes now. Now that I'm retired we just go to have a small turkey meal with friends we don't get to see often, and it's really enjoyable. Christmas is still the big event at Mom's though.

One of the best Christmas' I remember was one year when I didn't have to work, we took the dogs to the dog beach for the first part of the day, then off to the family thing later. Maybe will do that again this year!!

I have also chosen to stay home alone rather than go to a family dinner. Not to mope or feel sorry for myself... just because I am sometimes happier with my own company than I am dealing with other people. (And my family can be kinda nuts... holidays are ALL DRAMA in my family.)