The truth about holidays
What a week!
After waiting since July to have another treatment done on my back, I finally got into the surgery center on Monday. It probably wasn't the best timing since there is a major holiday this week and we have a houseful of guests including a very sweet baby girl (who likes to take selfies with Grammy's phone).
Apparently over time a person forgets how painful the recovery from this procedure can be. The doctor warned me beforehand that my neck and spine would probably be extremely weak and sore for a couple weeks and boy was he right. Luckily, I got to go home Monday and spend the day in bed with ice on my back. Yesterday, however, I had to go back to work which was not fun. I've pretty much learned to keep my pain level to myself after 4 1/2 years of constant pain. People just don't want to hear it. I'm just supposed to keep going at full speed everyday with a smile on my face. Hopefully in two to three weeks we'll know if this procedure worked.
This procedure was not timed well. I'm hurting, I'm tired because I can't sleep because of the pain, and I would just like to go home and curl up with my heating pad after work. Instead, we get to start the holiday season which is actually the most stressful, depressing, and least-enjoyed time of year for me.
I know that sounds very bah humbug, especially from someone who used to love Christmas.
I've become a crabby old lady at the age of 55.
The one thing I love about the holidays is the family being together. If we could just do that without everything that goes along with it, I'd be a happy camper. I love my family!
Holiday.
Really? Who is it actually a holiday for?
I get one day off this week for a "holiday". I'll be exhausted when I come back to work on Friday.
Yes, Friday. A couple years ago my company decided to be open the day after Thanksgiving. Since I'm a department head and a good boss who gives her employees the day off, I have to show up on Friday.
Yes, I'm resentful about that too (not giving my employees the day off, but the fact that we're open).
So I have just one piece of advice for those of you who are lucky enough to just get to "show up" for a holiday.
Help.
Don't just ask what you can help with. Get up off your rear end and take the initiative to do something helpful without being asked.
Okay here's something else. Don't make your host do all the cooking and cleanup too.
One more thing...we're in the 21st century now. Just because you're a man doesn't mean you just get to sit around and do nothing while the "women folk" do all the cooking and cleaning. Many of us "women folk" have full-time jobs with man-sized paychecks. Next year after Hillary becomes president and breaks the last glass ceiling, things are going to be different for you men. Women deserve a holiday too.
Oh, and for you "kids" who are now in your 20s and 30s---you're not the "kids" anymore.
Sorry, here's one more piece of advice. If your host has been in charge of the holidays for years, give her a break. Have the holiday over at your house next year. Bring your host a glass of wine when she arrives and let her just sit around and "show up". Just make sure the wine is served in a Glam Glass!
So I'm officially announcing my retirement from holidays. After 38 years it is time to just "show up". After this Thanksgiving we'll be having pizza for holidays if I'm in charge and we'll be going hiking somewhere beautiful since being outside in the mountains is what centers me. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Do we really need a holiday that is centered around an ungodly amount of food? Aren't we fat enough already?
I am extremely thankful for all the blessings in my life, especially my girls, their spouses, my grandchildren, my dad and brothers, Irv's family and mostly my sweet hubbie who I love more than life itself (even if he can't hear me when I talk anymore).
We are truly blessed. Next year I hope to make some changes in my life that will reduce some of the stress and fatigue. (Also, please remind me to never have a medical procedure done the same week as Thanksgiving. It has put me in quite a funk.)
Bah Humbug! And Happy Thanksgiving!
After waiting since July to have another treatment done on my back, I finally got into the surgery center on Monday. It probably wasn't the best timing since there is a major holiday this week and we have a houseful of guests including a very sweet baby girl (who likes to take selfies with Grammy's phone).
Apparently over time a person forgets how painful the recovery from this procedure can be. The doctor warned me beforehand that my neck and spine would probably be extremely weak and sore for a couple weeks and boy was he right. Luckily, I got to go home Monday and spend the day in bed with ice on my back. Yesterday, however, I had to go back to work which was not fun. I've pretty much learned to keep my pain level to myself after 4 1/2 years of constant pain. People just don't want to hear it. I'm just supposed to keep going at full speed everyday with a smile on my face. Hopefully in two to three weeks we'll know if this procedure worked.
This procedure was not timed well. I'm hurting, I'm tired because I can't sleep because of the pain, and I would just like to go home and curl up with my heating pad after work. Instead, we get to start the holiday season which is actually the most stressful, depressing, and least-enjoyed time of year for me.
I know that sounds very bah humbug, especially from someone who used to love Christmas.
I've become a crabby old lady at the age of 55.
The one thing I love about the holidays is the family being together. If we could just do that without everything that goes along with it, I'd be a happy camper. I love my family!
Holiday.
Really? Who is it actually a holiday for?
I get one day off this week for a "holiday". I'll be exhausted when I come back to work on Friday.
Yes, Friday. A couple years ago my company decided to be open the day after Thanksgiving. Since I'm a department head and a good boss who gives her employees the day off, I have to show up on Friday.
Yes, I'm resentful about that too (not giving my employees the day off, but the fact that we're open).
So I have just one piece of advice for those of you who are lucky enough to just get to "show up" for a holiday.
Help.
Don't just ask what you can help with. Get up off your rear end and take the initiative to do something helpful without being asked.
Okay here's something else. Don't make your host do all the cooking and cleanup too.
One more thing...we're in the 21st century now. Just because you're a man doesn't mean you just get to sit around and do nothing while the "women folk" do all the cooking and cleaning. Many of us "women folk" have full-time jobs with man-sized paychecks. Next year after Hillary becomes president and breaks the last glass ceiling, things are going to be different for you men. Women deserve a holiday too.
Oh, and for you "kids" who are now in your 20s and 30s---you're not the "kids" anymore.
Sorry, here's one more piece of advice. If your host has been in charge of the holidays for years, give her a break. Have the holiday over at your house next year. Bring your host a glass of wine when she arrives and let her just sit around and "show up". Just make sure the wine is served in a Glam Glass!
So I'm officially announcing my retirement from holidays. After 38 years it is time to just "show up". After this Thanksgiving we'll be having pizza for holidays if I'm in charge and we'll be going hiking somewhere beautiful since being outside in the mountains is what centers me. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Do we really need a holiday that is centered around an ungodly amount of food? Aren't we fat enough already?
I am extremely thankful for all the blessings in my life, especially my girls, their spouses, my grandchildren, my dad and brothers, Irv's family and mostly my sweet hubbie who I love more than life itself (even if he can't hear me when I talk anymore).
We are truly blessed. Next year I hope to make some changes in my life that will reduce some of the stress and fatigue. (Also, please remind me to never have a medical procedure done the same week as Thanksgiving. It has put me in quite a funk.)
Bah Humbug! And Happy Thanksgiving!
Comments
And, since you are retiring. You, Irv, and anybody else who wants to come down to Oklahoma next year. Sit down and I'll pour you a wine. Give me enough notice, and I'll have any kind of wine you like. In fact if you can arrange for Shiloh and Gigi to be here I'll go above and beyond.