Holiday Thoughts

Labor Day is here again and winter holidays are not far behind. Soon the streets will be filled with tiny ghosts and goblins carrying plastic pumpkins in their annual quest for candy. And once another Halloween has passed the Thanksgiving/Chanukah/Christmas/Kwanza season will begin. And what a beautiful season it is. There will be homemade cookies, holiday dinners, decorations, parties, trips, family gatherings and gaily wrapped packages.

But for many people, holidays are the saddest time of the year. While radio music reminds us that there is "no place like home for the holidays", think about

People who have lost close relatives

People who have no family

Children in foster care

Children in hospitals

Deployed military and their families

Families of prisoners

Holidays are also a sad time for people who have lost their homes and for low income parents who are unable to provide their children with the gifts everyone else seems to be buying

Comments: 13

William M. Sep 4, 2006, 8:48am EDT

Good reminder for us all.

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judy l. Sep 4, 2006, 9:13am EDT

Thanks for reminding us of all that we have to be thankful for

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Valleri B. Sep 4, 2006, 9:18am EDT

I'll never forget my first Thanksgiving after I was married ... I was 19 years old living in Turkey (yes, the country) with my hubby who was in the Army. We managed to prepare a full dinner, turkey and ham with all the trimmings, for 25 of his fellow soldiers. Everyone thought it was just for them, but what they didn't know was that the gathering served a dual purpose since I was desperately missing my large extended family back in the States ;)

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Linda R. Sep 4, 2006, 9:24am EDT

I understand Valleri. My husband was in the Navy for the first 4 years of our marriage and worked on the Jacksonville Florida Navy base for the next 30 years. We invited many of the sailors to holiday dinners when they were unable to visit family.

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Mary G. Sep 4, 2006, 10:12am EDT

I work non-profit in social services and agree with the holiday season being a very trying time of the year for some, but it also brings out so much good in people wanting to help. Donations of time, gifts, money. I cherish that.

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Barbara F. Sep 4, 2006, 10:35am EDT

I'm still in denial that the holidays are just around the corner...too much stress to deal with.

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Dorine H. Sep 4, 2006, 11:08am EDT

My husband died last year. Each holiday since has been a lonely day filled with painful reminders of what used to be.

Today I made plans--very simple ones--with a friend, and was let down this morning with an email cancelling those plans. No friend ever replaces having the time to enjoy with your beloved husband.

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Linda R. Sep 4, 2006, 11:29am EDT

Oh Dorine - I'm so sorry for your loss. I know that the upcoming holidays must be very difficult for you.

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Iris Savea Sep 4, 2006, 11:57am EDT

I think so many people get so caught up in the greed of the holidays they forget simple things like that. People are to concerned with the materialistic side of things. Thank you for refreshing my memory.

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Sandra L. Sep 4, 2006, 5:58pm EDT

I agree that the holidays have become very materialistic. I actually don't enjoy them all that much because of the commercialism. I would love to hear more of what people do to bring the true meaning of Christmas into their home.

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Tab B. Sep 4, 2006, 6:02pm EDT

It seems so often families don't get together as much as before during the holidays. Everyone has their own agenda. I want to host my family at my home this Christmas, since I am the most centralized location for all of us. We tried it last year, no one came (good thing I didn't start cooking!) I love family. It's wonderful to get the kids, grandkids all together and share laughs and memories.

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Carol Roach Sep 4, 2006, 9:39pm EDT

tell me about it, I still fall in that category

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Holiday Thoughts

Comments: 13

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