Celebrating the holidays differently. What gift can you give yourself?

@Erinmfs Well, Molly, this took some time for me to consider! I have been thinking of gifting our household a new kitten, but we didn't fare too well with a rescue we adopted Feb 2019. Our first cat, a Burmese mix, took an instant dislike to 3 Speed [she had three legs] and declared war. Not a very happy household, and we had to rehome her. So, I watch cute kitten videos now, glaring at our Tessie Belle and tell her "this could be us if you'd allow it!"

We did help out a family who recently lost everything. While getting out in public is a challenge this year, my husband and I had such fun lending a hand. It is very soul-satisfying to be able to do this. Bless their hearts, the two teenagers only wanted some clothes.

A fun thing to think about is how much more social we will be next year, as a nation. There was an "Unofficial Just Some People With Lights on Their Vehicles" parade in town Saturday night, and we will do that next year [gosh, a whole year to think up something crazy!]. I am not in to techy stuff, so your idea of getting a Siri was just right for you. Does she argue her points, and present a challenge? My stepson got me a new wind spinner for the front yard, while I made TV watching lap blankets customized for each of his family. That was fun to rootle through fabric stash and have each one different!

I invite @fiesty76 @imallears @jakedduck1 @sueinmn @rosemarya to clue us in what fun things they may be gifting or receiving?
Ginger

Well, you all know I have to complicate everything.
I just finished a tshirt quilt for my husband. It's 60 x 84 so I made most of it standing at my cutting table with the machine on top. And my daughter requested a new apron, so I found special fabric and made her a reversible one.
We don't gift our little guys with a lot of toys but they are really into pretend cooking so I created a set of play dishes pots and pans supplemented with small real spatulas and the like. All is being delivered in two totes with pretend burners on top. Auntie added play food and I made them aprons.
The adult kids are getting requested special cookware.

Gifts will be exchanged in person Dec 24th during a short visit then we'll dine separately. At 10pm we will walk to an outdoor candlelight service at a neighborhood church as we cannot imagine Christmas Eve without, and our church is still only virtual.

Our celebration on the 25th will be a project thought up and tested by Auntie and the big boy. We will assemble Charcuterie Houses - like gingerbread houses made of meats, cheeses and raw veggies, hald in place by cream cheese. We will be masked while we do it then take them home and eat "together" on Zoom.

We usually entertain at least 2-3 dozen family members on Christmas day. We took that money and donated to a nearby family whose earners were all unemployed since April, to allow them to have a festive meal and maybe a few small gifts.

We have already begun making calls to friends and family members we won't be able to see. We do video whenever feasible.

We hope that by this time next year we will be together again. Blessings to all of you.
Sue

@harriethodgson1 Harriet, I’m so sorry to hear of the death of your husband. That’s great though that you will now be doing something that will be so enjoyable and fulfilling for you,
I hope you have a good Christmas with family and/or friends.
JK

@harriethodgson1- My heartfelt condolences on the loss of your husband.

@harriethodgson1 It sounds like family is really important to you and they will be missed this holiday season. What kinds of traditions does your family have?

We usually had a live tree with ornaments students have given me over the years. Christmas Eve dinner was oyster stew, though it took a long time for our daughters and cousins to like it. Christmas day dinner was roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding, recipes from my British heritage.

Harriet -
Because we will be without family at our table this year, we have chosen to forego some heritage traditions (all time consuming) Toutiere (French-Canadian meat pie), Potica (Slovenian rolled sweet bread) and the giant pot of Polish in kraut. The giant Saturday-before-Christmas allergy-friendly cookie bake was of course cancelled. Tomorrow I will mini-bake - one easy cookie & 2 quick breads. Some will freeze for a remote New Years' celebration with friends.
Sue

I don't celebrate any holidays regardless of date. This year my choice of rewarding myself for another year is to stop my trying to fix everyone who presents a problem or difficulty. I'm working on my PTSD and recently discovered the origin of my terror of falling. It was a revelation to me and has taken one more horror out of the leftover past. Thank you for being there.However I'm withdrawing from Mayo Clinic Connect. Good bye

@lolaemma I sincerely hope you will pop in from time to time, even if just to read some posts from other members. There is no requirement to respond, unless you truly want to. Everyone needs a sounding board from time to time, and I have found many instances where just reading a note from someone may tap something inside you, and validate something you feel.

Very glad to hear you have discovered the origin of your fear of falling. How has it changed your life now?
Ginger

Assuming lolaemma is gone, I am sorry to see her go, although I read only her last post, which I found enlightening.