tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post2640272311991761361..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Holiday ChaosL.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-87802838243120962552011-12-08T11:52:14.278-08:002011-12-08T11:52:14.278-08:00Huh? Christmas? It's Christmas?Huh? Christmas? It's Christmas?ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-35905836033573700992011-12-08T11:14:05.477-08:002011-12-08T11:14:05.477-08:00LJ, I'm more than halfway there myself. My two...LJ, I'm more than halfway there myself. My two sons are grown up (22 & 24) but still single so they don't really care about Christmas traditions. (That will probably all change when they get married and have kids - or whatever version of that.)<br /><br />I'm enjoying this in-between phase where they're not little kids anymore, and they don't have little kids to bring around to Grandma. My Christmas preparations are scaled WAY back these days, and it's great to have the extra time! And money.<br /><br />I think Christmas has gotten ridiculously out of hand anyway, with people (mostly women) running themselves ragged with cleaning and shopping and cooking and baking and spending a ton of time and money on gifts that most of the recipients probably aren't that crazy about anyway.... I could go on but I'll stop there! LOLJodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-74342120942747367862011-12-08T10:55:26.200-08:002011-12-08T10:55:26.200-08:00Marlyn: Giving up Christmas has been very liberati...Marlyn: Giving up Christmas has been very liberating! It fits in with my whole new post-50 goal of not doing things I know I won't enjoy just because someone else thinks I should. Life is short. :)L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-75942891900360167142011-12-08T09:11:33.122-08:002011-12-08T09:11:33.122-08:00Gayle, I'm very fortunate to not be hosting an...Gayle, I'm very fortunate to not be hosting any group celebrations this year.<br /><br />L.J., I don't know if I envy you or not. As an empty nester, and having relatives far-and-wide, I'm celebrating Christmas at least twice this year. <br /><br />On the other hand, I've given myself permission not to stress about perfection (or mailing cards/gifts to arrive before Dec. 25th).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12487464497446199247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-32486961127324148672011-12-08T07:56:15.772-08:002011-12-08T07:56:15.772-08:00I hear you Gayle, the Holidays can be rough. I'...I hear you Gayle, the Holidays can be rough. I've gotten used to very long days over my career and I tend to break up everything into managable tasks. I'm very new to writing and still trying to find a rhythem but I start work at 7am and usually don;t knock off until midnight (sometimes later). I know I have a very long road to go and I view it as a marathon. That being said, I will always make time for Christmas and family and if I have to choose between that and writing, the writing loses. For me, without the family and the things i hold dear, I have nothig worth writing about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-78036808293403180792011-12-08T07:43:42.289-08:002011-12-08T07:43:42.289-08:00L.J., I doubt if I ever truly give up Christmas. A...L.J., I doubt if I ever truly give up Christmas. After all, the Christmas letter was how I got into writing, LOL! I WILL scale down, though, eventually, when I stop having to be everyone's damn Norman Rockwell.<br /><br />Peg, at least some of you seem to be making progress. Or you're lying.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-6655519420051527062011-12-08T07:22:23.527-08:002011-12-08T07:22:23.527-08:00Um . . . done? December? You're kidding, right...Um . . . done? December? You're kidding, right?<br /><br />Oh yeah, that's right. You're the humorous one.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-304533610949036022011-12-08T06:42:07.488-08:002011-12-08T06:42:07.488-08:00One of the best things about being an empty-nester...One of the best things about being an empty-nester is that I'm free to be me. Which means, I don't celebrate Christmas. This has been a gradual process that began with abandoning Christmas cards more than a decade ago. I still see my family on Christmas, but for me, it's just another gathering, no rituals required. But I try not to squelch anyone else's fun. Happy Holidays!L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com