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Hi, I wanted to share one of my many memories of Christmas, that I have had through out my Life, some Good, some not so good. This one however,always brings a smile to my face when I think of it. When 4 of my Grand Children were younger, I decided to do something very different, I really liked the American way, of getting Family together, decorating the Christmas Tree. With my childhood, we always had a real one, we would all have to go out bush and find one with Dad. He would always pick one that was far too high for the Lounge Room, would drag it through the House, leaving pines, all over the place, with Mum going beserk at him for the mess.
I always remembered how the smell of the Tree go through all of the House, so I decided to get a real one this year, and get the Two Grand Daughters, and Two Grand Sons over so we could all get together and decorate the Tree. I got a big drum put the Tree into it, went over to pick up the kids.I was so excited, had all of these wonderful thoughts of this wonderful time we were all going to have together. Nana, and Grand Children time.
Well, we started to decorate the tree, the 2 Girls were lovely, and we were decorating the tree, the boys, were sitting on the Lounge and wouldn't move. So they started picking at the girls, being really horrible. I told them to pull their head in and stop it, but they kept at it, the girls started to cry, my hackles were beginning to stand up at the back of my neck, glaring at the boys. They thought it was a great joke, it was then, I knew that all of my dreams weren't going to come true. I had 2 Girls upset, 2 boys smart '''''Things', Nana ready to blow her stack, so much so, I lost it, and said, "That's It, I have had enough, you are all going to get in the car, and I am taking you Home'
The girls knew,I wasn't angry at them only the boys. I took them all Home,wanting to throw the boys out, and I came Home to cool down.I might add, it took some time. I thought it was all over, but it wasn't. The next Morning, I woke up to hear a Noise, of Voomp, I thought to myself,what it could be. I got up, walked into my Lounge Room, and it was the Christmas Tree, fell over, all over the Lounge Room Carpet. As I didn't have any shoes on, when I went to pick it up, was walking on the pines.What a mess, that did it, I picked up the tree and wanted to throw it out the door, but knew I couldn't, so where did it stay, until, I could get rid of it, out the front Room, where I didn't have to look at it. Why did it fall down, me being me, I only had a brick holding it in the drum, so wasn't supported enough.
The Lesson being, did I ever do that again, no, no, no.So I have never tried to recapture, the American way of Christmas. There has never been anymore invitations to come to decorate the Christmas Tree. I don't know if they remember, as they all have grown up, and have Families of their own, but each year, when I see a Real Tree, I remember, and brings a Smile on my face.
Hope you all of a Christmas Day, that is good for you, what ever you do.
{{{Wendy}}} You have described a funny/sad slice of life. My sponsor taught me not to have expectations, and I try very hard not to. Alanon teaches me to be accepting, forgiving, and to focus on myself. Merry Christmas to you, Lyne
"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
Great share! I am reminded yet again that while Norman Rockwell holidays may exist for some, that's never been my experience! We've had some holiday experiences that - in the moment - I was well beyond disappointed....today, mostly because of recovery, I can look back and laugh at some of the insanity...(((Hugs)))
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
Christmas.was a time of.deep.despair.for.me. in particular when I.was.in a.relarionship my expectations were.awol
Now I have none. So the day was.and still can be.immensely triggering.
Now I am looking forward to a restful.day. I have other priorities these days. January is a busy month.
I am enormously grateful to have been deliverd.from the hopelessness and despair that for decades consumed me.at this time of year. One.of my friends killed himself on the 23rd December two years ago. I was often suicidal.at Christmas. Really suicidal. I.started being suicidal.around Thanksgiving. There was no relief for me until January
Sad times desperate times all resolved with the help.of al.anon
What a gift
A life saving gift
...