Guess it is easy to say 'Merry Christmas' with a smile and look at all the tacky trinkets overflowing with mass merchandising all month long.

If you are spending it by yourself, don't. Find someone to talk to. Try to be somewhere even if you don't know anybody as much as you could. There may be someone in your past that would still be fun to hang out with if given the chance. There are many opportunities out there to get involved with and enjoy. Keeping your mind busy if nothing else.

A quick call to most family members could mean more to them instead of the lousy crap that Amazon is hustling, because it tells them that they are worth spending the most valuable asset you have, your time.

I am not one of the better members here, but if you need someone to talk to, send me a note. Take care of yourselves out there. God bless.

Well said and good advice. I am blessed to not be in that situation, but I have been ( in 2017 )
and it’s true, there are people out there who care, if you seek them out. No I am not meaning hookers you weirdos...

Indeed. Find good people. Church is a great place to find them. But hell, even a decent bar will do. People and human connections make everything better. Even us SF e-Pals are a pale substitute to a real conversation and eye contact.

I'll be on the forum on Christmas day. Wife and kid are going home to her mom's house so I get some peace and quiet. Actually quite looking forward to it.

Very good point. I will be pushing a cruiser both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I will be checking the forum from time to time while cruising around if someone wants to drop a line.

Hey, fuzz, I don't know what area your cruiser route covers, but know that a bunch of us will be thinking about ya and appreciating what you do.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
Hey, fuzz, I don't know what area your cruiser route covers, but know that a bunch of us will be thinking about ya and appreciating what you do.

Thank you very much. That means a lot.

Please remember all the guys and gals pushing cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances, and especially the ones on duty here and abroad in our armed forces this Christmas.

With people like this on a forum like this you really are never alone.

I'll be working 911 dispatch 12 hours Christmas Eve and Christmas night. I really don't mind, lets the others with kids have their time.

I’m going to enjoy spending the time alone. I’m Catholic so Christmas is about remembering Christ. Not consumer product bonanza season (Chinese made trinkets), fat bearded men, red sweaters, egg nog and the rest of the bullshit. We get off early Christmas Eve at work and I head straight to the homeless shelter for volunteer work. Christmas Day, I have to hit mass. Other than that, I’m staying off the roads and out of the traffic and bullshit. Movie time at home and back lifting weights when the gym opens up December 26th. Back to work on the 26th also, someone has to hold down the work fort while everyone in the office takes off the final 2 weeks of the year. I can’t be bothered with any of it, it’s all fake to me outside of Christ. Just marketing and more marketing. I don’t get depressed. I’m about to get real happy because in 2 weeks this bullshit is over! The traffic, the lines, the hassle to just get simple groceries or a HD trip for something for the house.

If you spend time alone, watch non-commercial content. Commercials are all made by marketing companies trying to get you to pull heart strings. Commercial after commercial of fake families and friends with red sweaters on, toasting egg nog, gathering around a fire, and holding hands. It’s all fake. Go to someone’s family deal and people show up long enough to make an appearance then they leave, as they really didn’t even want to go in the first place. Realize, if you get depressed, that this is all fake, and all designed to do one thing, get your money. Buy trinkets you don’t need, buy more food than you need, buy a NEW CAR! It’s the fakest time of the year. Grandma is cutting you off in traffic to go to the store to buy some consumer product. People get discourteous and it’s just a big shit show. Go to the gun range and shoot. Rent some movies, go exercise. Enjoy your life and put the shit show on ignore.

Prefontaine-

Well said... where are you located?

This will be the 3rd Christmas alone. Daughter is going to see her mother out in Salt Lake City for Christmas.
I'm pretty much used to it at this point. I'll see family Christmas day once I get going in the morning but it's just me and the dog.
Doesn't make me depressed or angry, just another day basically.

My 6th grade niece has plowed right into reality ... consumerism sucks. It was refreshing to sit across from her at a BD dinner last week.

quote:

Originally posted by r0gue:
Indeed. Find good people. Church is a great place to find them. But hell, even a decent bar will do. People and human connections make everything better. Even us SF e-Pals are a pale substitute to a real conversation and eye contact.

Checking with a church is a great idea. The meals on wheels folks and church secretaries know widows and widowers who are alone. Gather up a few and take them to lunch in a local restaurant, then enjoy some good conversation and coffee. A nice long ride on the way home would hit the spot if they don’t get out much.

First heard it from this guy, a thousand years ago: "Christmas Spirit is not what you drink".

Be safe.

0-0

Years ago worked EMS on Christmas day.
One call during that shift - a prisoner in local jail tried to hang himself.
It can be a depressing time for some people.
Thank you .38supersig for your suggestions.

PCWyoming

I will be working at one of two places - local food bank or the kitchen

I will spend all of it blissfully alone. Police work ruined any semblance of "peace on earth, goodwill to men" during the holidays. Peace is where you find it. Like Halloween, adults have ruined Christmas.

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
Guess it is easy to say 'Merry Christmas' with a smile and look at all the tacky trinkets overflowing with mass merchandising all month long.

If you are spending it by yourself, don't. Find someone to talk to. Try to be somewhere even if you don't know anybody as much as you could. There may be someone in your past that would still be fun to hang out with if given the chance. There are many opportunities out there to get involved with and enjoy. Keeping your mind busy if nothing else.

A quick call to most family members could mean more to them instead of the lousy crap that Amazon is hustling, because it tells them that they are worth spending the most valuable asset you have, your time.

I am not one of the better members here, but if you need someone to talk to, send me a note. Take care of yourselves out there. God bless.

A very nice offer, and good advice.

I live alone and have no nearby kinfolk (not many kinfolk left at all, really). However, I'm active in my church and the Choir is an excellent support group. My birthday is this coming Saturday, and one soprano has invited to take me to Birthday Dinner tomorrow, and one fellow tenor is doing it on Sunday. I don't really understand it, but I seem to be pretty well liked. One of my 2 BFFs lives just 60 miles north and I'll probably have an opportunity to visit him during the holidays, too. (I went up and took him and his wife to dinner around Thanksgiving--it was a fun visit.)

I participate in 3 message boards and communicate with members in a chorus I used to sing with.

I don't feel alone. However, I am very active with e-mail, and will gladly chat with anyone who just wants to talk.

flashguy (David)

quote:

Originally posted by 357fuzz:
Very good point. I will be pushing a cruiser both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I will be checking the forum from time to time while cruising around if someone wants to drop a line.

I'll be home on Christmas, too--if you want to chat by phone or e-mail, give me a shout. (I'll send you my phone number via PM if you want it.) My Best Friend is a cop, so I've some idea what's involved.

flashguy

I find it very sad that anyone can be totally alone. I feel there has to be someone- a shooting buddy with family, a neighbor, church or social club member that can show people they are not really alone.
I picked up and moved 2200 miles a few years ago to a town where I knew no one, and have a good number of people who would hang with me if I was alone.
Thank god for my beautiful bride and loyal dog too
Wife is working Christmas ( at a hospital someone has to do it) and she volunteers to so the families that have kids or need to travel can get off.
I work Christmas Eve and the day after which will probably be very busy ( urgent care center)