RoarRH!

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Nothing quite says Merry Xmas like the Tazmanian Devil! This year's addition to the neighborhood over-achiever's holiday display took me by surprise. Altho some children may resemble the imaginary, cartoon creature after receiving all their presents n candy, Taz's violent demeanor is contrary to the theme of the holiday.
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We're supposed to be giving, relaxing, finding some peace, n celebrating the birthday of the Christian messiah figure-head. Even anti-Christians find some family togetherness time n festivities according to their own traditions, religions, or atheist inventions.
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I resent not getting to follow the family traditions set in place by my parents, because I'm forced to work in order to survive. It's also quite a let-down for me not to be able to duplicate the extravaganza my parents managed to pull off year after year. They are such a tough act to follow! The economy has taken much of my holiday ability hostage.
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This year the out-of-place, maniacal character has taken on augmented meaning in conjunction with the Peace celebration. First, a maniacal dressed-up as Santa, crazy guy enters a Xmas Eve party, shooting down his ex, inlaws, n party guests before setting the place on fire, n committing suicide.
How would you then deal with being a family survivor of the "Xmas Eve Massacre," on subsequent holidays?
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Not well, certainly-
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You're supposed to be celebrating birth n life, not death. What a contradiction, mourning with celebration... How confusing this must be for all those who lose loved ones on the holiday.
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I thought I'd had a depressing time until I heard today from a friend, who's a young mother. She suffered the monumental loss of her mother on Xmas Day this year. This news hits home hard for me- I've known the deceased woman since my girls were in brownie Scouts decades ago. She was about my age, part of my peer group, a smart, wonderful, giving person, who spent many years hard at work teaching Special Ed kids. Only two years ago she retired on a pension, n was able to enjoy spending more time with her young grandchildren.
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Not even two weeks ago she went to the ER with a digestive problem, then was transferred up to Boston when a mass was discovered. They'd all thought treatment would follow, n never suspected such a quick decline, n death, due to a perforation n ensuing sepsis causing systemic break-down. This is so depressing!
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How do you wish some one going thru this tough situation to have a Merry Christmas in subsequent years? From now on for her family, the memory will stir-up a storm of negative feelings associated with the date. I'm always depressed about missing my parents on Xmas. The holidays are stressfull already, now add on more...


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The Tasmanian Devil has reared his inappropriate face in a happy n peaceful scene...