Thanks for the support Brownlocks.... Your in the same boat HUH... well as they say you can pick your friends but not your family.. Soooo since I have a friend who cannot go home for the Thanksgiving Holiday, she and I will do the turkey dinner here at my house... She has never cooked a turkey so this is an opportunity to  pass on my skill in the kitchen as far as turkey goes any way... Oh and the gravy... I make a mean gravy.... That is what will be missing this year at my in(out)laws... I always made the gravy as while they can cook none of them has mastered a really, really good gravy... use the jar/canned stuff. I plan on home made cranberry sauce as well... with splenda of course... gotta make at least 2 bags of those and freeze the leftovers...!!!!!

Have a safe and happy holiday I know I will....

Ann

When I read your post, I was compelled to reply to you.  I could have written your post.  I have a sister-in-law who did not speak to me at my husband's (her brother's) viewing, funeral or repast.  That is so immature.  We are adults.  I have accepted that that door is closed.  Unfortunately, it is my sons, her nephews, who do not deserve this treatment.  I thought I was the only one.  We have to take the high road.  My husband's family members, his sisters and nieces and nephews, are getting together for Thanksgiving and me and my sons were not invited.  Not that we would have gone to be honest.  We will be spending Thanksgiving with my sisters and nieces and nephews and there will be more love than drama.  Hang in there Ann.

Hi Gerri,

My heart goes out to you. We are both in the same boat with having all the holidays plus our birthday and our late spouse's birthday all together at this time of year. By the way, happy birthday to you on the 25th. Seems like you and I usually share our birthday with Thanksgiving a lot, don't we?

I certainly understand the "escape" part. I find myself driving back & forth to California almost every week, just as a distraction. Sometimes I don't need to go there, but the week here at home becomes almost unbearably long if I stay home by myself here.

I finally nailed down my plans for Thanksgiving. I will be going out to one of the casinos for their fantastic Thanksgiving buffet. That will be a new thing for our family. It will be my son, his wife, 2 granddaughters, his mother-in- law and father- in- law & me. Because it is new, it should not be so tear producing for me or my son.

I also have two different friends who say they are coming into town and I will hopefully get to go out & do something different with them that week. Maybe they will call when they get here and maybe not. You never know what people will really do when they come into town. Some say they will call and then never do because they get so caught up in all the glitter, etc. I can totally understand.

I wish you the very best of luck! We WILL make it through this and move from grief into joy. It just takes time for us all.

Lots of love & hugs, Sharon

Hi Sharon,

            This is a difficult time of year for me also. My birthday is Nov.25 and Don and I always put up our Christmas Tree up the day after Thanksgiving and then went to Foxwoods for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. His birthday was Dec.22 just before Christmas. Last year I could'nt bear to be here at that time so I flew to Florida on Thanksgiving Day to visit my sister in law and brother in law, I could only stay 5 days but it was a distraction. Last year they also flew here to be with me at Christmas, this year they will not be coming. I am finding this 2nd year as hard as the 1st in some ways.  This year I can't bear to be here either so I am running away to Florida again. That will take care of my birthday and Thanksgiving . I wish I had a plan to make it through Christmas. I still work part time so I can't just take off for another week nor could I afford it. I read your posts and wish I could travel the way you do. It must be exciting to be on the go and meet new people all the time.  I wish you the strenght to make it through this season and yet I know you will be just fine. Hopfully someday we will meet.

                                                                                                Gerri

Would you like to hear something funny? Well, I got an online coupon from 1-800 flowers.com and decided to use it to send myself the birthday flowers . I chose the ones I liked best, put in the coupon code and almost finished the order and I needed a pin number to finish the order. My old pin did not work and I have not ordered anything from them in awhile, in fact since last March  when He passed away. Since the pin did not work, I gave up and I'm back at square one. Oh, well, it was the thought that counts. Maybe I can order them myself next year.

Lots of love & hugs,

Shaorn

Great ideas ,Bernee! You always have such inspiring things to help us get through this. Thanks so much , sweetheart! What a joy and a strength you always are! Thanks for always being there for us, dear friend!

Lots of love & hugs,

Sharon

Dear techteacher8,

I can totally relate to you. I could not even teach any more after my hubby passed away last March. I retired in April because everything reminded me of him and I could not cope at work. He was a teacher as well.

I have been hiding out tonight in my home also. I still have a difficult time with Halloween, since he is gone. I just don't want to mix with the children rightnow either. Having my grand children over is a different thing, but stangers and all that rightnow I just can't handle either. My late hubby was such a funny guy and kept everyone laughing.

I went out last night to a jazz concert with a friend, but just needd to be alone today for some reason.

Things are still so fresh for you and the healing takes time for us all. Sometimes hiding out alone is just what we need. Other times we need to get out and mix with others. Only you know what you need and when. Those who love you will understand.

Lots of love & hugs, dear one,

Sharon

do not have them sent to you, go and pick them out yourself,, you will feel better doing it,, i have been doing this for 13yrs.. and for yrs i got him a christmas card to 'someone far away' i wrote a note inside and layed it under the tree, i just got all them out the other night.. and all of them he sent me before he died.  i just picked some up today for halloween too..  it will help you feel better.