I'm sure most of us have thought it at least once while the turkey was being carved. "Wouldn't it be great if I could spend one holiday without my crazy family?" But unless you've experienced flying solo for the holidays, you might be unsure about how you would handle the usual festivities.
Of course there are a few advantages to celebrating a holiday alone. No family squabbles to deal with would be at the top of my list. There's also no need for compromising. You can dine where you want, when you want, and on what you want. But for most people, celebrating alone does not happen by choice. And since the holidays are typically seen as the time of year for families to be together, this can be hard pill to swallow if you are celebrating solo due to loss or distance.
There's also the situation where it might just be the two of you. Whether you're a couple trying to establish your own tradition or financial constraints are preventing the usual travel plans, it might feel depressing or lonely to stick with the traditional celebration. Do you stick with tradition and still whip up a lavish meal? Do you pick and choose what is important to each partner and incorporate that into the day? Do you make reservations at that fancy restaurant you've both been dying to try?
So when it's just you, or perhaps two, how do you celebrate the holidays?
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I've spent many holidays with my SO or with a few friends, and even a few by myself. There's nothing depressing about it for me. I think it's nicer to spend a holiday with a small, select group, or with one person, rather than with the whole brood. I guess your outlook on it makes a lot of difference; focus on the positives, and don't get hung up on any negative aspects!
Depressing and lonely!? How I wish that it could just be me and my husband for Thanksgiving! But no, we must traipse to my in-laws and sleep on an air mattress in the living room. Seems like needless suffering to me. I would rather visit with the families on a non-holiday weekend, it's much more enjoyable. These big get-togethers seem so forced to me. But then again, I'm an asocial hermit.
my spouse, son, and I live across the country from our entire family--so we often celebrate with just the three of us (or perhaps a few friends or co-workers). It's a beautiful, intimate setting and I still cook everything I would for a larger gathering, just in smaller amounts. Nothing depressing about it at all lol
One year, I did Thanksgiving in a restaurant with a few friends. I loved it! It was a little expensive but worth every penny and they sent me home with left-overs. The food was delicious, and it was so relaxing and stress free.
My folks are coming in from out of town - but even so, I'm hosting a little dinner party for them and a couple of friends at a nice upscale local restaurant for Thanksgiving Dinner...
...it sure beats dealing with all the cooking, leftovers, stress, etc. of hosting a group at home!
two years ago we became converts to eating out on thanksgiving. it was blissful. just hubby, me and our baby. for the last 10 years, every other thanksgiving has been spent at my in-laws. the food is mediocre, the mess is gigantic, the chaos is huge, the good times are very few. Sadly, since we live only 2 hours from the in-laws, not showing up most years would cause a major rift. But oh how wonderful was the eating out! Find a nice hotel that offers thanksgiving dinner, and go for it. If you can convert your extended family to do the same, even better.
My husband and I have celebrated Thanksgiving by ourselves for the past few years.
And we love it.
We make a great big turkey, potatoes, green bean casserole with extra cheesy onions (not exactly gourmet, I know, but I LOVE the stuff), and our own cranberry sauce.
We cut up whatever turkey we don't eat on the big day (and there's usually a lot), and freeze some and refrigerate some. We use it throughout the following weeks to make pot pies, soups, and turkey and cheddar paninis. We cook the turkey bones to make broth, which we freeze and use later in the pot pies and soups.
My partner and I are THRILLED not to be forced to celebrate any of the holidays this year with our families. We live 3000 miles away from them and its a great buffer. the last time we had xmas and thanksgiving with her family, oh man, it ended in tears and resentment all around.
We also don't do traditional holiday celebrating, b/c of our social and political beliefs, so thanksgiving is way better when we finally have a day off together and can eat lots of cranberries and squash and just hang out, instead of being forced to do traditional stuff with the family.
i really love the quietness of thanksgiving day, when everyone else is busy out somewhere, and the roads and houses around us become peaceful.
My husband, daughter and I are across the country from both of our families. We spend our holidays just the 3 of us and occasionally invite a few of the other soldiers that have no where to go or be for the holidays for a small dinner. I really enjoy our family traditions now and don't find them lonely at all. I think they end up feeling more personal for us.
My husband is away on his first deployment so this year will be harder on my daughter and I. We've been invited to spend the holidays with friends here but I know we'll be spending the majority of our holidays following our own traditions as the 2 of us instead of 3.
There were a few years where I found myself alone for Thanksgiving. I booked a table for one at the Ritz Carlton enjoyed an amazing dinner. Sort of the way I imagine Chuck Bass would do it.
Thanksgiving should never be spent with family. That's what quasi-religious holidays are for (Christmas, Chanukkah, whatever...). When I started paying for my own flights, I decided to cut out visiting family for Thanksgiving, and I have never looked back. Now, I take in strays people who don't have anywhere to go (like myself). We crack open a few bottles of wine, stuff ourselves, drink tea, watch movies all day. It's wonderful.
We often spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with just the two of us. We love it - truly relaxing. Sometimes we cook a big meal, other times, something simply but still special. We always enjoy the quiet time.
As a former restaurant and retail worker, it bugs me when people eat out at Thanksgiving. Believe it or not, these employees would rather be home with their families or just have the day off, but they can't because they have to be there to serve you.
I could see not wanting to spend time with a large family, but I don't think restaurants should be option.
Just cook a meal for your self or have friends over for a potluck.
There are just some holidays where businesses should be closed and this is one of them. Let's all be thankful for having the day off.
My first solo Thanksgiving was in college. I invited all my friends who were also alone on campus (families too far away to make a weekend visit feasible). We had tacos and beer and watched football. It was one of my favorite Thanksgivings ever.
I often celebrate Thanksgiving alone and now look forward to a relaxing time by myself. I've found however, that it's important to mark the occasion and go to the trouble to cook a reasonably lavish meal for oneself, set the table with nice linens, polished silver, the good china, glasses etc. Lots of leftovers means that I don't need to cook much for a while.
Julia, just close the resturant if you feel that way. The fact is, they are open, the staff is going to be there anyway. And people shouldn't have to rearrange their schedule for a staff that is going to get paid for their work anyway.
I spent one Thanksgiving alone, in Baltimore. I had just broken up with my long-time BF, I didn't plan ahead for food, and nothing else was open except the Indian restaurant two doors down. So I ate Daal and Korma and Naan for Thanksgiving Dinner. The food was yummy, but I was sooo lonely.
I've spent the last several Thanksgiving holidays in Europe. Domestic airfare goes sky high for the holidays but surprisingly you can usually fly international for the same or often times less since there is little demand over the American holiday. My new favorite Thanksgiving tradition is schnitzel in Germany. This year we are flying to see my in-laws though. I'm looking forward to it, but I know after the first 24 hours I'll be wishing I was somewhere else. The flights (including layovers) from my home to theirs will take almost the same amount of time as a direct flight to somewhere in Europe!
The thought of celebrating the holiday alone doesn't depress me in the least. I've always been a loner though.
I love doing Thanksgiving with just me and my fiance. I can make whatever we want (especially helpful for two vegetarians), we get to keep all of the leftovers, and there's (almost) no fighting, all day long.
I used to do the "Thanksgiving 3000 miles away with the entire extended family" thing, but then I realized that I was spending way too much money to fly out there at "holiday" airfare rates for 2 days of the same old family drama, and everyone was too busy being concerned about "having a nice Thanksgiving" that no one really had a chance to converse like adults. So the fiance and I make a wonderful feast, eat as much as we want, and call the family after dinner when they're much calmer and full of pie.
My family doesn't celebrate holidays of any type so I never have holidays with them. I love the holidays though, so I get depressed around this time but I usually get picked up by other strays and we make a delicious meal. This year, who knows, my SO and I will make a meal and maybe we will pick up a few strays.
Ms.Jessiemeghan- Restaurants are only open on Thanksgiving because people go to them. If nobody went to restaurants then they would be closed. I don't mean to offend anyone... I was just explaining my view point as a restaurant worker.
My family used to do the big get togethers for years until family members got more spread out and others died. We then started going to restaurants, and honestly I'm not a fan. Even if the meal is small and easy, I much prefer spending the time at home.
The past couple of years things have started to look up. We've taken to inviting friends over rather than just family. The gatherings are still small but nice.
"As a former restaurant and retail worker, it bugs me when people eat out at Thanksgiving."
Considering Thanksgiving would be a day of lost income for folks who often don't earn that much money (Restaurant waitstaff and kitchen staff rarely get paid holidays - and they certainly don't earn tips) - in this day and age, I'd think that they'd be pleased to earn 5 days of wages that week rather than just 4.
Folks in the retail and restaurant industry have choices too (Yes, I was one of them too) If they don't wish to work weekend and holidays, there are other industries where they can choose to earn a living.
Last Thanksgiving it was just me and my husband (fiancé at the time) and one of his roommates. Instead of cooking a big turkey, we had individual Cornish game hens. We still had a few of the regular sides - stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes - just on a smaller scale. It was a lovely, intimate meal with a lot less fuss.
Evangeline
I CANNOT wait to spend Thanksgiving alone - I'm serious. A guilt free day of not feeling like I need to be anywhere or that I'm missing something at work. I don't want to go anyone's house for Thanksgiving feeling like I need to bring something, help with the dishes, or play nice to strangers. I plan on being in my jammies drinking mimosas and watching parades. I have lots of reading, watching videos and naps on the roster as well.
Thanksgiving is about a time of being grateful -- and if one is not particularly grateful for the family drawn in the genetic lottery, then why do it?! I've usually spent the holiday skiing (fewer crowds) or savoring the day off! Being alone on holidays can be bliss . . .
@msjessiemeghan, as someone who's father worked most Thanksgivings, I feel I need to say you clearly haven't thought of the restaurant staff. They want to be home with family like you're supposed to be on holidays and their families want them there. Restaurants aren't critical to the holiday the way a hospital or power plant is (Dad's job) so they should be closed. The owner is the one who determines the hours so the staff can choose to quit or they can work it. People too lazy to cook for themselves can be SOL. The holiday happens the same day every single year, planning ahead a little bit wouldn't kill you. This is also a secular holiday so it's not like you work around it like you can with Hanukkah and Christmas.
I've never spent a Thanksgiving alone, I spend them with family every year. If the family didn't get together, I'd gather as many of my friends up as I could and do a full dinner. It'd be fun!
TG is just a regular day and a regular meal to me, but I do enjoy that it's a paid holiday from work.
I've always loved huge family gatherings, but ours have never been chaotic... my mother is an AMAZING planner and my family are some of my favorite people and it's a good chance to see them since I live so far away!
I'm missing them this year and we will be four -- my SO and his mother and aunt, but I seem to be planning a meal for 25 as per usual. Oy!
I'm not sure I could handle the holiday alone! I'd probably cook all day anyway.
@Kathryn, I like the idea of dinner alone at the Ritz Carlton. Were there many others celebrating by themselves or with one or two others?
My ex and I (and before that relationship, my roommate and I) would celebrate Thanksgiving, just the two of us. I lived in Chicago then, and I still remember my ex remarking that he loved being in the city over the holidays because everyone else left town. The city did indeed feel more peaceful.
I still wouldn't turn down Thanksgiving with family if cost of travel weren't a factor. I only see my family two or so times a year, so any time I do spend with them is welcome.
One year when I was on my own, I went ice skating in Central Park. I got there as soon as the rink opened, and it was kind of gray and drizzly so it wasn't very crowded. It was magical. It's one of my fondest city memories.
When I'm on my own, I usually go to a diner and try to sit at the counter or a restaurant that has a community table. I always meet a few people and it's really pleasant.
For the past few years, my BF has taken me to Thanksgiving dinner at his cousin's house. It's big blowout, with tons of food and about 30 people. It's just like a movie--a movie about a dysfunctional family. Snide, petty remarks, irrationally competitive side-dish and dessert competitions, overly familiar drunk uncles, the whole she-bang. Every year someone runs down the hall in tears or leaves in a huff. Doors slam. Women sulk. One of his aunts always calls me by my BF's ex-wife's name and scolds me for putting on so much weight (actually, I haven't gained a pound; can't speak for the ex-wife).
I cherish the memories of that morning on the ice and the dinners with cordial strangers....
Oh... I forgot...
I typically spend Thanksgiving at a local shelter, serving food to the homeless. I do it every year. If you are by yourself for Thanksgiving, I would recommend doing this. It's a great way to give back and not feel so lonely. Plus you get to put a smile on someone's face.
Then I head to my parents in the evening and eat dinner over there.
@bepsf, My parents used to own and manage a restaurant, and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year were the only days they took off. They were convinced if they took any additional time off that the business would suffer, but that's difficult for a kid to understand, and I'm still not sure it was a good decision.
I'm not sure what motivates other restaurant owners to keep their places open on holidays. It's hard to imagine business being such that it'd be worth paying to have everyone come in. Those are the restaurant workers I feel sorry for, the ones who are already working most holidays and weekends but who are not entitled to even one day off with family because the restaurant owner is more concerned about profits.
@itsakitty, What you wrote describes perfectly why I dislike going to weddings! Spending money to fly around the country to go through this ritual and not even get to sit and talk to my friends.
JuliaL -- Unless people here in Indiana are just weird, employees do get paid overtime for holidays and I can think of a few dozen people who would rather work and get the money than celebrate. And like it's mentioned, if your employees hate coming in so much and you want to lose the profits of people who will eat there on the holiday, then close the restaurant. It doesn't HAVE to be open.
I would be happy to do it in smaller groups. The fiance swap it every other year with our in-laws (they get Christmas or Thanksgiving and the next year is swapped) to keep anyone from being upset. I yearn for the years we do it with my parents since it's just the four of us then (and enough leftovers to at least eat the rest of the holiday weekend) - this year it's dinner with almost his entire mother's family (think dozens) and it can be stressful - and there is no such things as leftovers when we dine with them.
A few years ago my husband and I spent Thanksgiving alone, and while I missed my family, we had a blast. We started the morning off with bloody marys, baked cheese grits, oysters, and a chicory coffee creme brulee while we watched parades and football. It was so warm that year we were able to pull the TV out onto our balcony and eat outside. Then that evening we ditched the turkey and I made a prime rib roast with horseradish mashed potatoes.
Last year we ditched the family togetherness again and went to Manihi, French Polynesia for Thanksgiving. That too was fun, but for different reasons (snorkeling instead of Black Friday crowds). Needless to say, another turkey-less Thanksgiving.
This year will be my first Thanksgiving with the in-laws. Southern Indian - so vegetarian, but I plan on making a tandoori turkey for those of us who do eat meat. Hopefully it will be a fun weekend.
I work on Thanksgiving. Time and a half is so much more appealing than enduring my in-laws.
I spent 5 years living 700 miles from my hometown and could never make it home for the holidays because I worked in retail. I think the first year, I was a little sad because I felt like I was missing out on the festivities, then the second year I cooked my boyfriend a traditional meal for the two of us. It was awesome, we made bloody mary's, watched movies, ate food and just relaxed. Some years, we'd just drive around the city or even the beach (I was living in Florida). Since moving closer to home and no longer working in retail, I kind miss those days when it was just us. Now we have to travel (2 hours away), squeeze in 2 family visits and sleep in someone elses house. We love our families, but I really miss being able to just relax and enjoy the holidays.
Tiamat, people don't go to resturants because they are too lazy to cook, the food might ACTUALLY be good and that is why they are there. If you don't like working long hours then why go into that industry? Planning ahead won't kill you. If you have a crappy boss, that is not the customers fault.
Honestly, I don't care. I like the idea of making a meal. If the restarants were closed, it would not effect me. But the fact is, is that some are open on that day and some people do go to them during the holiday. You should be mad at the owners of the restaurants, not the patrons.
This conversation makes me want to go to a restaurant for Thanksgiving now. hehe, I kid.
I did one Thanksgiving away from my family- I worked day before and day after, so I couldn't fly home. I was thrilled to be invited to a friend's Thanksgiving party...
until I got there and realized that by "Thanksgiving party" he had meant "the two of us and the tv."
I really wished I had just stayed home by myself- or gone out for more edible fare!
I'm shocked at how belligerent everyone got about JuliaL's comment. Why do you assume she's the owner?
My mother worked for decades in the restaurant industry-- and often not by "choice." People "choose" to get low paying waiting jobs often because that's the only option available in a particular economic climate with a non-educational background.
If the restaurant was open for the holidays, working was usually non-optional. Waitstaff had to choose to work either Thanksgiving or Christmas or they lost the job altogether.
And, for the record, waitstaff typically make a non-tip wage of less than $3 with few or no benefits. Time-and-a-half doesn't come close to balancing out the lost family memories.
So anyway, I don't mean to rant or dissuade people from eating out on TDay, but please do show some respect for the people whose "choice" to work on the holidays is severely limited. And, if you do eat out, at least tip well.
I've done the extended family get-together thing, I've done the couples thing, I've done the alone thing, I've done the group of friends thing and I've done the restaurant thing. It's all good. Each arrangement has had advantages and disadvantages. Different arrangements have had different meanings to me depending on the stage of life I was in and the people in my life at the time. I am not big on holidays in general and I don't have a preconceived or rigid idea of what a holiday *has* to consist of in order for it to be "good."
@ M. L
There were a few other solo diners, although I was definitely the youngest.
I already well on the way to my annual holiday funk. I only see my family at the holidays, out of some f'd up sense of obligation. Knowing that I have to spend time with them creates a tremendous anxiety and depression.
The best xmas I ever had was when my ex and I left town and went on a camping trip. It was as if christmas didn't even exist!
I'm one of those people who works on holidays -- all of them -- because that's part of my job and while I complain... it's nice to be able to spend time alone or with friends who are also in the same boat. My family doesn't live that far away, so as I usually work the morning shift (ends at noon) I can always make it home for Thanksgiving or Easter if I want to. I love my family dearly but I can't commit to spending every holiday with them for the rest of our lives. My grandparents are gone now, and we don't have a lot of extended family so it's always got a bid of sadness around the holidays anyway. The house used to be full and bustling, but not anymore :/
My boyfriend is a chef who also works on every holiday (except Christmas Day, but I have to work that day anyway) but never complains because that means time and a half and a little extra money to spend during the holiday season. As for whether restaurants should be closed... I think people who choose to work at restaurants know what they're getting into when they begin their jobs... Working in the service industry means you may not get the holidays off and that's just something they have to deal with.
I spent one Thanksgiving alone when I was living in San Francisco because it was just easier that particular year (I think it was a combination of needing to work that weekend and knowing that I was going to be going home for Christmas in a month anyway). It was actually kind of nice. I went to the aquarium at the Cal Academy of Sciences in its temporary downtown location and looked at the fish. I can't remember what I did for dinner.
Having restaurants and other businesses open on Thanksgiving is a mixed bag. There are some employees who don't mind working that day and appreciate the income, and others who would rather be home. There are business owners who'd rather close down for the day and others who'd rather keep the place open and get the revenue from customers who would rather not stay home for whatever reason. I don't think any particular scenario is inherently wrong or right. On the other hand, I'm not going to say that employees who hate working holidays should just go get another job, because sometimes it's just not that easy, especially in an economic climate like this one.
Man, some ppl here are too much concerned about money....
WOOHOO! The whole family, I did it as a couple twice and that's all it took to drive me out of that idea. Yeah... family gets awkward, and there's always that inappropriate/ paranoid vibe... and if I hear my mom cry again during grace I'm going to stab one of my several drunkles, but if we can't manage to have a single meal with people we're supposed to love, how can we expect the world, hell... the country to get ANY better?
LOLCAT SEZ: DRAMA NO WANT! NOM NOMS WANT!
Be thankful on the day of Thanks that restaurants, movie theaters and most importantly, bars are open on the holiday. I wish I could spend the day without relatives but having the option of getting out of the house and enjoying a cocktail makes everything go smoother. To show my gratitude I leave a big fat tip - I remember the Thanksgivings and Christmas holidays I had to work. Big tippers are always welcome!
who the heck uses the word "soda" anyways?! what? is this the fifties?
How about soft drink? Or pop like us canadians use is so much better! lol "thank"fully, we already had our canadian thanksgiving back in october - i think the US date is too soon to christmas (just my two cents but what can you do? And yes, i do have my tree up!). Happy Holidays!
insanity_pepper --
Your post reminds me of a year while I was active duty in the USAF - I was living in the bachelor dorms and didn't want to be the "orphan" at someone else's dinner table again, and I also didn't want to spend another holiday eating dried up old turkey, mashed potatoes made from a powder and gluey gravy in the Chow Hall on base...
...so I put on a blazer, gassed up the car and drove into San Francisco for a Thanksgiving Dinner all by myself in the old Oak Room (now Michael Mina's) at the St Francis Hotel. The waiters and waitresses were all very kind and looked after me nicely.
Afterwards, I walked through Union Square and looked at all the holiday windows of the closed up Department Stores as it was getting dark - then hopped in the car and drove back to Sacramento.
a couple of years ago I was alone for thanksgiving. I was working full time and in grad school and exams were coming up. I knew that I couldn't get all my work done and fly home, so I stayed in town by myself.
it was actually quite nice. I splurged and bought a huge holiday dinner at whole foods. at least I got a lot of sides, since I am a vegetarian and the faux turkey didn't appeal to me. I picked up the food on wednesday after getting off work and ate great food, worked on my exams, and just relaxed for the rest of the weekend.
Kathryn - love the Chuck Bass reference. Had me and my husband laughing out loud.
When I went away to college far from home, my parents told me they couldn't afford to fly me home for Thanksgiving. So I spent Thanksgiving break by myself in my empty freshman dorm and had a wonderful time just hanging out and relaxing (my parents, on the other hand, had second thoughts, felt terrible, and called me every few hours).
That was 13 years ago; since then I've spent maybe half my thanksgivings completely by myself, some with boyfriends-at-the-time and a few with other friends. And once or twice with my parents.
I used to like working on holidays when I was a barista and waitress. Tips were better, it was slower, and people were all chummy and nice for the most part. Time and a half isn't universal, and I never recieved it for holiday work. I am an exception in not minding the work, though.
I stay home for Thanksgiving and only visit the family for Xmas. It's just too much hassle to do twice in a year, especially when travel is so awful around that time of year.
wait wait there's -- Even if she isn't the boss, she didn't have to work - there is a choice called quitting. But either way, I think some people were making the point it's not the customer's choice if the restaurant is open - it's the owner's. If he/she's too greedy or heartless to close, thats the employee's problem with him/her.
We don't celebrate Thanksgiving over here in the UK but I would love to skip the Christmas-with-family thing altogether given the choice. It's quite nice when we spend it with my SO's family as there are lots of people and children and it's fun. With my family, it's just the two of us plus my father and brother who don't really love Christmas anyway. It reminds me of my mother who loved it and makes us sad. I see them a fair amount all the time so it's not especially different - we just eat more! We do tend to go away all together and spend it down in Cornwall where we can take long walks on the beach and go to the pub. It's lovely, but I wish Christmas wasn't such a 'big thing' and it didn't have to be one particular day. If we didn't do it though, my Dad would be on his own and I don't want that (even if he says he doesn't want to celebrate!)
I loved the Christmas we spent on a small boat in New Zealand with a bunch of other travellers. No presents to buy, no pressure. Just good food, good weather and fun. I'd love to be able to spend Christmas with friends, but all my friends go to their own families.
While Thanksgiving isn't a holiday in France, it's well-known enough that my American self enjoys celebrating it by making corny paper turkey decorations and setting them in the break area along with some candy. (I know, candy isn't very Thanksgiving, but I couldn't bring baked goods to work.) That way I get to share the spirit and stories with friendly colleagues!
As for Christmas, I've spent it alone for a few years now. Several reasons (distance, expense, living single in a foreign country), so I always make the best of it. I splurge on champagne, foie gras, and high-quailty chocolates, and bake myself my favorite dish for dinner. It's also nice to decorate for Christmas, I make a ritual of doing it at the start of December and making it as enjoyable to look at as I can! Great fun, and over the years, I've found that I really hold warm memories of it, so it's definitely worthwhile.
I make Thanksgiving and Christmas last all month long - celebrating with friends - having our own dysfunction-free gatherings that are peaceful and closer to the true spirit of the holiday. After having been the center point for family holidays, the person who spends 3 days cooking and cleaning and cleaning up while hosting at their home, I'm glad to be free of those elaborate events. The family began squabbling over time, and we were putting on the big holiday family for the kids in the extended family (we so overcompensated for their parents divorce!), so over time an elder relative and I opted not to do the big family dinner and to re-invent the holidays for ourselves doing only what we truly enjoyed. I can honestly tell you, there's nothing better than pumpkin pie for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning, way better than waiting until you're over-full in the evening! Now, that elder family member is gone, when I find myself alone on the big day here are my favorite things to do:
* volunteer (if I'm nostalgic volunteering helps me through any holiday funk)
* hibernate with a roaring fire and a stack of my favorite holiday movies
* head out for a hike through my favorite area (try hiking through the redwoods, on Thanksgiving, or walking the beach when it's cold and clear and quiet)
* and this year, I cleared the decks, I'm finishing that torturously long kitchen renovation!!!
Love Kathryn's post! Kudos Kathryn, that's an inspiration well worth trying.
It's always just me and my husband. And I love it that way...a very elaborate meal, one tired cook, and one very appreciative husband. And I don't have to do anything other than warm things up to eat until about Tuesday.:)
I spend all holidays alone as it's too much trouble to fight the crowds to fly the 3000 miles home to be with my family. It's been this way for about a decade now. But I've made my peace with this. I do make the traditional dinner and I love the work that goes into it. And the leftovers are the best part! It's just me, good food, fine wine and lots of football. And all repeated for Christmas in one month's time.
I just wish fewer people thought I was some kind of freak for enjoying my splendid isolation during the holidays.