Appleby's Journal

Toronto --Canada has had its Thanksgiving.  My Mama and sister were to come up here to spend the weekend with me, and as always, they cancelled.  Mama in fact told everyone EXCEPT ME that she was not coming.

Now to be fair, my sister cancelled because she is going through yet another messy divorce, and Mama is nervous about travelling alone, and I told her that she had to consider her own comfort; she is 82 after all and travelling is getting difficult for her.  That being said, I have another sister in that area, a friend who offered to come down and drive her up, and a number of relatives who could have done the same.

Nobody volunteered.

I have had one visit from family in 11 years.  I have visited them frequently, the ones who live nearby and the ones that do not.  They have visited each other, and they have travelled to Florida and to visit in-laws.  They promise frequently to visit me.  They never do.

I was fortunate to have a friend come and spend two of the three weekend days with me and we had a great time together -- a friend from the States, mind you, since Thanksgiving in Canada does not include inviting friends to dinner as it does in the USA.  In fact, no holiday involves inviting friends or strangers to dinner.  The spirit of charity is pretty much extinguished up here.

That is the end of my holiday complaint.  I will try not to have another one at Christmas, which is the next holiday here that you get if you are not a government employee.  There is no earthly use even bothering.  (My family have already asked if I am coming over to spend Christmas with them.  They just figure I understand that they just are not coming here.)