My X-mas

I had to work all that week.
A co-worker invited me to go to his wife's mother's house for Christmas dinner.
Sometimes new is good, sometimes different is better.
They are a quiet undertoe of a mess ... these people.
But I'm not gonna get into that. Who amoungst us isn't?
The food was good and filling. That is sometimes what it about, really about
communion between strangers, even amongst differing philosophies
but done in a non-combative positive manner.
a neutral manner.

We had shrimp that were so big they cannot be called shrimp
potatoes cut and cooked with them
green bean casserole
steak
corn on the cob
dinner roll
:)

I missed the big blow out when someone's grandfather surprised them by showing up and an uncle came in saw him and pretty much turned right around and left.
Apparently those two do not get along ... at all.
I know the feeling
I wished to avoid that by not going to my family's thing.
The TV was on. Is the TV ever off in the American home? For very long?
Some kind of monitor will be on, some kind of machinery will be running.
We saw Back to the Future 2 and many parts of Holiday Inn (Black & White).

So far I have not received a card from my family. That was good. Trying to get me to feel guilty with their cards. I am not done with my anger and betrayal and simple shaking my head at their souls antics yet. I admit this. When will I be done? I do not know. I spent many many years being in the middle of it. I don't base this on anything simple or surface. Which is why I am still not healed from it. And, even so, I don't see why I must be with them ever again anyway. It's a social convention which I see no reason to emulate.

Just to do as society says is not anything to do with God's Will.

I did get cards from my co-workers. Who have known me for just a month shy of a year. I also got gifts from some. Which was very nice. Not the things, but the thoughts.
I got 3 hats from one person, a tub of made candy, 2 coffee mugs, and 2 books.

Thanksgiving came late this year, later than many years up till now.
And this ridiculous and completely unavoidable recession hit
and I'm not sure it's that
but this Holiday Season is far different than any I've seen in decades.
It feels as if sucked by a vampire.