Surviving the Holidays
People always talk about ‘surviving the holidays with the family, as if it’s the hardest thing in the world. But what about all those people who have to survive the holidays without family? What about all those people suffering loss or, better yet, isolation during a season that thrives on family bonding and being kind to strangers? What about those people who have to deal with months of Christmas spirit when all they really want is to forget the fact that they are in it alone? Is it not already depressing enough that Christmas seems to publicly force itself into your face earlier and earlier every year? Is it not already depressing enough to walk around the mall, alone and broke, and see everything from sparkling, five-story Christmas trees to fathers taking their young girls, dressed in matching dresses and bows to sit on Santa’s lap to beautiful, young couples happily embracing each other? Maybe I’m just bitter.
How did the holidays turn into yelling matches with my parents, upping my anti-depressant dosage and attempts at hiding honesty behind sunglasses in public?
Christmas used to be my favorite holiday. Actually, I used to love all holidays. Love is an understatement. I even used to celebrate all eight nights Hanukkah. I could spit out the entire Hebrew prayer before I could even recite the pledge of allegiance. I was the bright-eyed, curly haired sweetheart dressed in an identical party dress as my younger sister. The very same activities that I used to live for now lead me to depths of sadness and remorse.
