I'm sorry you reel this way. You might want to try a new tradition--help out at a shelter? then you get to celebrate the way I think the holiday was inteneded.

I called a womens' shelter becauseI lived in one a year ago in another province.. they dont' want any assistance due to privacy concerns.. can you imagine.. they only want cash..

That's crazy. I have a friend that works at the homeless shelter here--they always need volunteers. Seriving food, playing with the kids, etc.

I will be spending thanksgiving making a turkey dinner for a friend (going thru a divorce) and her mom. As for my christmas morning alone - I have no clue what I am to do.

I cried last night because it was the first halloween without him. The first time he met my middle son was on halloween 9 years ago. My boy was in a stroller and I remember him playing perk-a-boo with him. Looking at my son (now 5'4") I realized how fast time goes and it saddens me.

Holidays are rough - just like the rest of the days.

Me and my daughter did our first Thanksgiving alone at a convelecent hospital. It was a good day.

Believer, I cried last night too. It was my first Halloween without him in 24 years. People stopped and asked why no spook alley this year--that made it even worse.

I left my husband in November of 2005.
This will be the 3rd X-Mas that I plan on sleeping through.
(Along with Turkeyday.)
VERY lonely but it's ONE way of surviving.

Cherub darling... I was looking for volunteer opportunities in Alberta.. I was thinking of the Union Gospel Mission.. but I can't find one for Alberta.. I volunteer for the UGM in Vancouver. There is usually a Mom's group, a Christmas tote drive for single moms, or health totes for the homeless.

there is an online Yahoo community in Alberta if you want to check that out.. I am sure a lot of singles would enjoy just some company that day.

Cherub, I can relate. Last November is when my world started crashing around me. I would love to just skip this entire month altogether and have no desire to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. Last Christmas was a nightmare and I am not sure what this year holds. However, I am in my hometown and family is insistent that I participate. Besides, my daughter lives with me and my bleak feelings need to be put on a shelf for her sake. So I know people but also feel no desire to celebrate and like you, the holidays do remind me of my own losses.

But for the obligation to "be happy", I would also be sleeping in late and going to a movie alone.

I do celebrate Christmas.
Last year was really bad.. we had nothing.
The EX cut us off.. rather interesting since he was living in the same house with me and the kids.
I found some money.. went to the Dollar Store and Xmas morning under the tree was tons of stuff.. unwrapped.. all from Santa. The EX was pissed off royally. How could I possibly shop for 3 kids on $100?... well I did it.
He bought them used slippers from the consignment store... no shame this man.. yet he found money for new clothes, shoes, boots for himself and a holiday.

Two of my little girls have birthdays the last week of December, it is a special time of the year for all of them. They never ask for anything, never expect anything, I try my best to make it a meaningful time together, all about family, being happy in our hearts, having enough to eat and having a warm place to live.

we are thankful for being together.

I was able to celebrate Xmas in March with the children.. we went out and did some shopping and they thought it was a riot, this post Xmas shopping.

Fal is my favorite season-Halloween and Thanksgiving are my favorite holidays.Last year and the year before were terrible-Fisrt date with X Oct21-engaged Oct 21 Married Nov 22-Lost my house Nov 22 Split up Nov 22-I find myself kinda happy this year-maybe next year will be even better.

I had to go into a store yesterday and all the sparkly christmas stuff just made me feel sad. My family are too far away to visit and I have no kids or friends that I can spend the day with. My husband has always said I ruined christmas for him because his mother wouldnt come to our house and didnt want me at hers, so he always went to hers on boxing day and had xmas there...so the last couple of xmas' havent been great, but I have never been alone on xmas day in my life. If it werent for my dogs I would just drink the day away. Then New Years eve...never spent that on my own and New Years Day is my birthday....just lots of forthcoming pain...that is all I can see.

Yes, I am dreading the holidays this year too. Especially the part where people at work ask each other what their plans are... yeah, my plans are to sit in my apartment and hug my cat.

I was this way last year- and I am hoping not to be this way this year. I know I HATE it.. but I also enjoy this time of year..I will avoid the malls at all cost, to see all the families, but I will enjoy the festive lights, and the moods of all, and I will rent a bunch of upbeat movies, and plan spa nites for me and make plenty of do- lists. Celebrate life.

Christmas will be awkward as all hell this year...my husband and I will be divorcing, but it'll be some time yet and we're now living as "roommates" due to financial reasons. I'm not quite sure how to approach Christmas...we're pretty much living separately in the same home. Two trees? His and hers? Ugh...my stomach just sank...
*sigh*...