holidays

This will likely get lost among the sea of holiday well-wishes and bitching (I say that with all due respect) on my f-list. But I mean to post just a brief something, since I didn't get a lot of my cards mailed on time this year - or at all. (If you normally get one, you may still yet, especially a_silver_rose.)

I'm not a Christian, so today isn't especially meaningful for me in a religious sense. I no longer have the traditions I did as a child, the ones I liked when growing up - such as going to Grandma's on Christmas Eve to a full, noisy house - and in fact, our Christmases around here have become rather shadows of their former selves. There are fewer of us in the family, there's more debt, there's more illness or age, and life itself has become harder all around. (Not just for us, but for everyone.)

BUT.

I have things at 36 that I didn't have when I was 10. I have understanding and age. I have a career and income and more power (relatively speaking) than I did. I can say pretty much as I please. I also happen to have a sister I didn't have when I was 10, so that's one of the few additions I can refer to. I have friends and fanfic, and books, and writing, and travel, and a car, and a generous line of credit (that I will never ever pay off before I die). Moreover, neither of my parents are dead yet, despite some tricks on Nature's part to bring that about.

And I can drink if I choose. Merry Christmas, indeed.

If you're having a great day, good for you. If you're having a shitty day, I hope it improves as you think of what you have, Christian or no. But what you really need it some of this to carry around the rest of the year to get you through the other 364 days.

So, in the spirit of all that - have a good holiday season!