The most wonderful time of the year?

We’re in the thick of the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Years, all of the festivities are in full swing in our neck of the woods.  Christmas light cruises, Mistletoe Ball, neighborhood parties. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

Someone posted on Facebook the other day to remember that this time of year isn’t exactly full of happiness and cheer for everyone. She reminded us that some people are missing family, either due to death, deployment, or distance.  This post really hit me in the feels.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were always my favorite time of year.  I loved when we would all get together for Thanksgiving and enjoy all of the good food, especially my Grandmother’s giblet gravy and my Mom’s apple pie.  Finding the perfect Christmas gift for a family member was always challenging and fun. It was challenging because, as a child, I insisted on giving my Dad a girl’s pink knit hat.  He still teases me about it to this day!

This year Thanksgiving was the saddest one I ever had. I desperately wanted to make reservations for Thanksgiving dinner since I was feeling extra lonely. Instead, I sucked it up and cooked a small turkey for Mike and myself.  It was delicious but it was still sad. 

I know that, as a grown, married woman, I made the decision, along with my husband, to move 1271.2 miles away from my family.  I own that error in judgement.  We thought, at the time, that it would be a good move for us. Financially, it was not a bad move. We realized that we were never going to be able to buy a house in New Jersey.  However, mentally and emotionally, it was not great for me.   Now that all of Mike’s family has relocated out of Florida, we are really alone down here. I am feeling very isolated. There is no one to celebrate birthdays or holidays with. My work schedule has changed so that it is hard to do anything socially.  I’m sad and lonely and I’ve decided I have to do something about it! 

Starting in January, I am going to get involved in something.  I don’t know what yet, but I have to do something.  I’m going to look into joining something at my church, if there is anything that I can participate in on the only day I have available, Monday or in the evenings after 6pm. I have to do this for me. I have to do this to keep my sanity.  Wish me luck!