Holiday blues
My family is kind of broken. Most of them don't talk to me or to each other. You can't get more than two of us in the same room without an argument. Most of the time I don't fret about it much, because I have a wonderful chosen family.
But...this year the holidays hit Jeremy and I both fairly hard. Our chosen family are all with their relatives. For the first time since his mom and sister stopped doing Christmas together, we had no place to be. There were some frustrated, angry tears. There was a stupid fight over Christmas stockings and how to do holiday traditions, that really wasn't about that at all.
Then we pulled together, talked it out, heard each others' sadness, and put our heads together. Two creative partners are better than one broken-hearted member of a broken family. Ideas happened. We might have gone a little overboard in compensation. Maybe. There is a bow on the front door, stockings on the couch, presents under the tree, beautiful candles in our menorahs, and panettone on the counter. Gregory and I are getting up early to make latkes. Since I was making them for us I decided to make a lot and invite the whole community for Channukah brunch. Then a friend sent me a last-minute text inviting us to a holiday party. Turns out, a lot of us are in the same boat. It helped to be around people.
My lovely golden Solstice tree has been up for a week. The Solstice Fairy I made sits on top, and when the house lights are out the whole tree gleams. I made a Winter wreath for the Common House door.
I have my family here under my roof. We are all safe and warm and our home is full of love. To quote Stitch: "This is my family. It may be small, and broken, but it's mine."
But...this year the holidays hit Jeremy and I both fairly hard. Our chosen family are all with their relatives. For the first time since his mom and sister stopped doing Christmas together, we had no place to be. There were some frustrated, angry tears. There was a stupid fight over Christmas stockings and how to do holiday traditions, that really wasn't about that at all.
Then we pulled together, talked it out, heard each others' sadness, and put our heads together. Two creative partners are better than one broken-hearted member of a broken family. Ideas happened. We might have gone a little overboard in compensation. Maybe. There is a bow on the front door, stockings on the couch, presents under the tree, beautiful candles in our menorahs, and panettone on the counter. Gregory and I are getting up early to make latkes. Since I was making them for us I decided to make a lot and invite the whole community for Channukah brunch. Then a friend sent me a last-minute text inviting us to a holiday party. Turns out, a lot of us are in the same boat. It helped to be around people.
My lovely golden Solstice tree has been up for a week. The Solstice Fairy I made sits on top, and when the house lights are out the whole tree gleams. I made a Winter wreath for the Common House door.
I have my family here under my roof. We are all safe and warm and our home is full of love. To quote Stitch: "This is my family. It may be small, and broken, but it's mine."