When I was younger

I have two different groups of women that I get together with socially, but this is still a difficult time of the year.

When I was younger we always had the biggest house and a dining room, but no one in our family wanted to drive two hours to celebrate with us and see our decorations, so we always packed up the children and dog and went back home for holidays. That way we could all be together.

Up until about four years ago my sister and I were still very close, but then her children and grandchildren starting moving into her house and her life; and now her great grandchildren have joined in, so there is seldom any time for just the two of us to be together.

My daughter who has had no car and no real steady boy friend for a number of years used to spend Sunday afternoons with me.  Now she has a boyfriend and a sixteen year old step son-to-be that she spends all of her time with. The only time I see her is if she needs a ride somewhere.

One of my sons has decided that I am the devil incarnate and the cause of all his problems, (along with a laudable group of other people) so we no longer spend Thanksgiving together. His ex-wife, thank goodness, still lets me see my grandchildren, but they live in Seattle.

My other son and Bestest call me quite frequently and that is the best part of most of my days.

It's not that I am not busy. I volunteer, get together with friends, and workout at the gym, but those things don't replace having someone come into my home, admire the Christmas tree, play with the dollhouse, bake cookies, whatever.