I miss my grandmother always, but when she died at 98, it was time for her to go--she wouldn't have liked being like this. I think of her as my mother. Daddy has Alzheimer's and effectively dies as a personality a few years ago.

At holidays, I am SO happy not to be around my biomom anymore and DD so happy not to be around hers and the way they trashed the holidays for everyone, that we do have happy holidays and consider them low stress. Everytime a "traditional" item or action is too much of a hassle and stress producing, we just don't do it. We like our holiday dinners in the evening. So, this Thanksgiving when making lunch while cooking dinner and minding the baby was too stressful, I just gave SIL some cash and sent her to the fast food strip and said buy something from someone who is open.

I love the holidays and all the seasons. Winter is especially cheerful for me because it is cosy, firelit, and a time for the family to snuggle in (nesting?), do indoor crafts, read, play games, and puzzles. And when you go for walks in the woods, many things are much more visible. ANd garden construction and planning are easier without the green distraction. We have designed the garden so that it has interest in the winter as well as the other seasons--and flowers every month of the year. Birdwatching is easier in some ways.

DD does miss the light, so