Jarlaxle
New England
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Joined: 11/18/2006
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Major1 wrote:Ah Yes, I was the big insensitive scrouge and anything esle my family could think of about 6 years ago. I said enough is enough! I said to stop the gift stuff and lets just get together for dinner and family time.
Good lord the sky is falling! I was the bad guy on both sides of the family. I said I do not want anything and if you buy me something I will refuse it. Except a new Harley. Well, I had to buy it myself. I stuck to my guns and the wife agreed too.
Well, guess what, my family all agreed to end the gifts last year and everbody was just happy to be there for a big family get together dinner.
Ya you will be the bad guy, I just told them to get over it!!!
I don't care what anyone thinks anymore. The family can get over it (or not, I'm truly at the point where I don't care), Liz agrees with me 100%. (She isn't a Christian and doesn't celebrate Christmas anyway...her big celebration is 4 days earlier.)
The thing I miss the most about my old job driving wreckers: working Christmas.
John
1984 Ford B-700 school bus conversion, Thomas body...sold!
1992 International Genesis...purchased
Traveling with my wife Liz, 3 nutty cats, one lazy dog
I am so sick of winter it isn't funny...
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Code2High
Ridgecrest, CA
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Joined: 12/21/2004
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A misguided attempt to hold onto days long past... by holding onto traditions that no longer serve anyone and in fact make the holidays less enjoyable. The rudeness involved in "requiring" or even expecting anyone to give you a present is really quite amazing, and consistently ignored.
If you don't want presents but have family that insists on sending them, then why not ask for donations to your favorite charities? There are plenty worth soliciting funds for, and that's a lot more positive and less wasteful than burning stuff. Or ask for stuff that you can then send on to others less fortunate, or perhaps others who are overseas right now and could use a few goodies.
susan
They didn't call her "Plain Gravy" for nothing.
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Jarlaxle
New England
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Mr. Camper wrote:
You might consider having a barbeque. With all of the coal you should have saved up from years past you should have enough to get a good set of coals going in under an hour.
I just dropped almost $1000 on heating oil & good wood is over $200/cord. I'd welcome as much good anthracite as I can get...my woodstove will burn it with no problem.
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Jarlaxle
New England
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Code2High wrote:A misguided attempt to hold onto days long past... by holding onto traditions that no longer serve anyone and in fact make the holidays less enjoyable. The rudeness involved in "requiring" or even expecting anyone to give you a present is really quite amazing, and consistently ignored.
If you don't want presents but have family that insists on sending them, then why not ask for donations to your favorite charities? There are plenty worth soliciting funds for, and that's a lot more positive and less wasteful than burning stuff. Or ask for stuff that you can then send on to others less fortunate, or perhaps others who are overseas right now and could use a few goodies.
I tried the charity thing...it started with my sister screaming at my wife, nearly getting her jaw broken, and went downhill (think: 75% grade) from there in a hurry.
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hsmomof6
Indiana
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Joined: 03/17/2009
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Our family use to have a gift/dirty bingo with a gift price range of around $20.00. Those that wanted to participate could. We decided last year to make it to where everyone could participate and started bringing one wrapped item from home (something we no longer have a use for). We all draw numbers and number one picks a gift to unwrap. Number two can take that gift or pick one that is wrapped to open. We have had more fun with that and not have had to worry about the financial side of things. I always have things at my house that never get used or is no longer needed. We had more people participate because of the change from buying a gift.
We even draw names with our kids. I have 6 children (5 at home) and if each child were to buy a gift for us and their siblings it would be so expensive. We each draw a name and buy for that person a nice gift. My husband and I usually get each child a few more gifts but that is the extent of it.
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hsmomof6
Indiana
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I am so sorry Terry that you are going through this with your Dad. I had a similar situation with my dad almost 5 years ago around the holidays! None of my family wanted to see that my dad was dying. I and my kids spent every possible moment with my dad because I knew it wouldn't be long and he wouldn't be here anymore. Please don't worry about Christmas, take care of what is most valuable to you and your family......your dad! My family actually felt jealous after he was gone because of the pictures and memories my kids shared about Grandpa. He used to come to my house after chemo and radiation every Tuesday for coffee and to spend time with me and the kids! I still have his favorite coffee cup that he used and it brings tears to my eyes when I use it or the kids use it! Cherish these times and don't worry about silly cookies/traditions!
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bigred1cav
ohio
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Joined: 09/14/2009
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Good Sam RV Club
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I just tell everybody I am Jewish, they leave me alone.
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Deb and Ed M
SW MI, USA
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Joined: 06/07/2004
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Some of you folks don't make me feel so "grinch-y"....LOL!! I had 2 relatives (my mom and ex-husband) who set ridiculous standards for the Holiday - including over-the-top gifts. Later in my life, I found out that both had been embezzling money (the ex from his employer - yikes! and my mom from her parents). So the commercial aspect of Christmas just turns my stomach.....
But I'm going to spend as much time as possible with my Dad this year - I'm "losing" him in a different way, to Alzheimers. Right now, the memories of Christmases past gives us something to talk about :-)
Deb
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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hsmomof6 wrote:Our family use to have a gift/dirty bingo
Got to ask, what is dirty bingo? You take off an item of clothes when you win? That could be pretty scary at our age!  
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Wrace
Seattle WA
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Joined: 09/03/2002
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hsmomof6 wrote:Our family use to have a gift/dirty bingo with a gift price range of around $20.00. Those that wanted to participate could. We decided last year to make it to where everyone could participate and started bringing one wrapped item from home (something we no longer have a use for). We all draw numbers and number one picks a gift to unwrap. Number two can take that gift or pick one that is wrapped to open. We have had more fun with that and not have had to worry about the financial side of things. I always have things at my house that never get used or is no longer needed. We had more people participate because of the change from buying a gift.
We even draw names with our kids. I have 6 children (5 at home) and if each child were to buy a gift for us and their siblings it would be so expensive. We each draw a name and buy for that person a nice gift. My husband and I usually get each child a few more gifts but that is the extent of it.
My wife's family did the very same thing for a number of years, except once a gift had been 'taken' three times, that was the limit.
It started out to be a very fun game but things gradually changed. First it was decided that the game is ok for the adults but people should still buy presents for the children. Then some people would give gifts to certain others in addition to playing the game. Then some people started purchasing new items for the game, making others feel like they should do the same.
I thought it was good concept and a good way to get rid of unused stuff that others may like. One year I received some tapes on how to learn spanish and I brought it as my gift the following year.
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