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Old 12-21-2009, 01:07 AM
 
Location: Beautiful Pelham Pkwy (da Bronx)
966 posts, read 2,440,768 times
Reputation: 565

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Although I love the meaning of the season, spiritually speaking, and I have always loved Christmas music, from carols to jazz, the hype and the commercialism turn me off. Not everyone has the ideal Leave It to Beaver or Bill Cosby family. Not everyone has the money to splurge on presents and gala events. I am on my own (seriously dysfunctional family of origin), and I have no close friends and/or reliable friends here in Madison yet, so the season is tinged with a kind of melancholy. One of my coworkers did invite me to Christmas dinner with a group of her friends. So sweet of her, but I don't know... I wish we could skip it all or fast forward our way through it, but since this is impossible I will make the best of it all, reflect on the true spirit of Christmas and the New Year, stay in touch with long-distance friends, spread some peace and love wherever I go, and try to enjoy some time off.

Suggestions?
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Old 12-21-2009, 06:52 AM
 
Location: Lower East Side, Milwaukee, WI
2,943 posts, read 5,057,971 times
Reputation: 1113
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nala8 View Post
Although I love the meaning of the season, spiritually speaking, and I have always loved Christmas music, from carols to jazz, the hype and the commercialism turn me off. Not everyone has the ideal Leave It to Beaver or Bill Cosby family. Not everyone has the money to splurge on presents and gala events. I am on my own (seriously dysfunctional family of origin), and I have no close friends and/or reliable friends here in Madison yet, so the season is tinged with a kind of melancholy. One of my coworkers did invite me to Christmas dinner with a group of her friends. So sweet of her, but I don't know... I wish we could skip it all or fast forward our way through it, but since this is impossible I will make the best of it all, reflect on the true spirit of Christmas and the New Year, stay in touch with long-distance friends, spread some peace and love wherever I go, and try to enjoy some time off.

Suggestions?
I recommend eating at a Chinese restaurant on Xmas day, as they are usually the only things open. That was a tradition for me and a small group of my friends when I lived in Denver.
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Old 12-21-2009, 08:49 AM
 
Location: Ithaca NY
286 posts, read 1,116,473 times
Reputation: 520
My husband and I did Christmas on our own at least once in Madison, and we enjoyed going on very long walks all though the city--this was from the end of Willy St. all the way to the UW hospital and back, a several-hour walk, on Christmas afternoon. Lovely for it to be so quiet. Bundle up as completely as possible, and bring snacks or a thermos of hot chocolate, since there's not much open.

Indian restaurants are also often open on Christmas.
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Old 12-21-2009, 08:53 AM
 
Location: Beautiful Pelham Pkwy (da Bronx)
966 posts, read 2,440,768 times
Reputation: 565
Great ideas. Thank you. Madison is so beautiful, and I do love ethnic restaurants. These ideas are definitely on my list of possible things to do.
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Old 12-21-2009, 09:52 PM
 
Location: Madison, WI
1,741 posts, read 5,386,856 times
Reputation: 821
Is there any reason you don't want to have dinner with your co-worker and her friends? Clearly she must like you or she wouldn't have asked. It could be a great opportunity to meet people outside of work, too.

I always dread going out on things like that, but am almost always glad I have when I do. It would be a good distraction at the very least.

I feel for you. Moving to a city where you don't know a soul is a brave thing to do. I've done it twice and was miserable both times. The one place I was in for two years and it just started to not suck at the very end. People have told me since that the 2 year mark is sort of "magical" that way. It's a long time to be essentially alone though.
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Old 12-22-2009, 09:42 AM
 
3,320 posts, read 5,583,879 times
Reputation: 11125
Well there is a reason suicide rates go up during the holiday season
All the pressure put on that you should be surrounded by loving family and having a glorious time puts many into depressive states.

I think you should take your co-workers invite. You may enjoy yourself and if nothing else it will get you out of the house. Lots of restaurants are still open on X-mas eve. Theaters are open on X-mas (they used to be open X-mas Eve). Maybe you will strike up a friendship out of the dinner and get an invite for New Years. Otherwise you could hole up with things you like to do at home or venture out to a venue of your choice and see what happens. This too shall pass
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Old 12-22-2009, 07:25 PM
 
Location: Beautiful Pelham Pkwy (da Bronx)
966 posts, read 2,440,768 times
Reputation: 565
Thanks, y'all. Things are looking up. A friend I met while sitting in on a class at MATC has come through. My wonderful coworker invited me to dinner because it was beginning to look like my friend was going to bail--due to holiday depression. This is not a happy season for everyone. I'm making other plans with my coworker and watching my little friendship circle grow. This is good. Still don't know what I'm going to do for New Years, but I will just keep an open mind and take it one step at a time.
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Old 12-22-2009, 08:36 PM
 
3,320 posts, read 5,583,879 times
Reputation: 11125
Good to know and have fun. You're not alone, as I noticed someone started a thread like yours in the relationship forum.
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