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For the purposes of this thread, I would say "alone" means "completely alone."
By my definition, at least, "alone for the holidays" means not having someone to celebrate the occasion with.
Obviously, one can go to a public place: church, Chinese buffet, airport, hospital lobby, even a store (they're increasingly open on Christmas) just to be among other human beings, but that's not quite the same thing...
oh, I disagree with "alone for the holidays" means "not having someone to celebrate the occasion with" !!
That may be the case, but not always.
I've had many opportunities over the years to be with people at their houses, at restaurants, at gatherings, with organizations etc. at holidays - but chose to not go.
(also some church groups have gatherings for holiday meals for groups such as singles or bible study - not where volunteers give meals to homeless or impoverished)
Your definition has the belief that if someone had someone to be with at holidays that they would most certainly be with them and would unquestionably accept invitations or devise their own gathering to invite people to...
which is definitely not the case. One can have invitations or gatherings to attend....and most definitely choose not to go.
But I do agree that hanging out at "Chinese buffet, airport, hospital lobby, even a store" does not count.
Last edited by matisse12; 11-03-2022 at 02:53 PM..
Well, technically, even if you refuse an invitation by your own choice, you "have no one to celebrate the holiday with." Whether you were asked to join others or not, and even if you declined, is anyone there with you? No.
But. of course, solitude is always sweeter when it's optional! If multiple people are clamoring for your company that day, I'm sure being alone on a holiday is much easier to bear.
For the purposes of this thread, I would say "alone" means "completely alone."
By my definition, at least, "alone for the holidays" means not having someone to celebrate the occasion with.
Obviously, one can go to a public place: church, Chinese buffet, airport, hospital lobby, even a store (they're increasingly open on Christmas) just to be among other human beings, but that's not quite the same thing...
I'm saying that the following is not accurate: "By my definition, at least, "alone for the holidays" means not having someone to celebrate the occasion with."
But alone is alone, of course. ~ Alone is NOT being with a spouse or significant other or with anyone else.
(the fact that some people think they are alone even when they are with their spouse or partner or significant other is what becomes amusing and many other adjectives)
I’ll be alone for Christmas, not unhappily. The holidays for me were never about the day itself so much, it was the occasion where relatives and friends made an effort to gather at a time when they had vacation from school and work. Christmas was always the folks and one or both brothers and families, and an assortment of others. Now the folks are gone, and their generation of friends and cousins are gone. I see my brothers and their families a couple of other times during the year and we talk a lot on the phone so that’s all good.
If I wanted to fly 1500 miles or drive 800, I’d be welcome by either brother. But doing so during the busy holiday season and worrying about winter weather holds no appeal. They’ll both call on Christmas Day. Friends would certainly invite me if I hinted, but being part of another family’s celebration holds no appeal either. I’ll decorate a bit, go to some parties in Dec, send out some gifts and cards, lay in a good meal, and save a couple new books for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. And listen to The Messiah and sing along with nobody to protest the tunefulness of my voice. The holiday weeks are still a fun time and full of good things and good memories - being cocooned in my cozy home on the day itself will be snug and comfortable- it was last year, my first alone Christmas.
I guess on some philosophical level, for 64 years, Christmas meant being with my folks. Since that can’t happen ever again, second best for me is to make the most of the season, but to enjoy the day itself by myself and in my own way.
I'll be alone, by choice mostly. My only close relative (sibling) doesn't do holidays either. I would rather be home alone than an odd fifth wheel at someone's family celebration.
I spent New Year's Eve alone once, when I was in my 20's. I was driving on a suspended license at the time, and it was snowing on my way home from work. I witnessed a crash due to the snow, and it missed me by a couple of car lengths. I would've been royally screwed if I got into a crash on a suspended license, so I stayed in that night. It was a great feeling, hunkered down in the snow, with no pressure to "have a good time".
So what happens if we coat this thread with tinsel and people show up on the thread during the holidays? Are they alone?
Or, if they open the front door and close the door from the front room to the rest of the house, will they never really know if a person (or cat) is in that room, or if they are alone? According to science, they could be there and not there at the same time until the door is opened.
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