We finally have a place to go for Christmas dinner!

...so now, you guys will no longer have to listen to my annual "my family hasn't spoken to me in (fill in the blank) years, so we're so lonely on Christmas Day" rant!

Don't get too excited, though--it's not my family. They still haven't spoken to me (even when our Mom died last year) since 2005.

However...I went to see my best friend (the one whose Mom is dying of thyroid cancer) sing with a group at a public Christmas function yesterday. DH and I ended up staying and singing with the group, which was FUN! The kids were so adorable, too. Anyway, she invited us to Christmas dinner, but I turned her down, as I had a gift card to a local restaurant that is open that day.

When we got home, many hours later, I said to DH, "I'd much rather spend it with them, than go to a stupid restaurant!"

I can't wait! Even though her house will be crowded (and she has no dining room), it will be nice.  DH doesn't like her cooking (I have to admit, she's not into cooking, and I've seen her less than sanitary cooking procedures),  but we'll make stuff, too. And the food doesn't matter--it's the company. I consider her family--she's been far, far better to me than my "family" ever was. We've been co-workers and friends for many years. She's a treasure.

I think she has invited us before, but I turned her down, for some reason--I can't remember why. She tends to do these invitations at the last minute, so I think DH and had planned to stay home, and eat there. She also asked us for Thanksgiving the past few years, but I turned her down, as DH's family were coming over for their "Christmas" the next day, and we had way too much work to do.

In case you rememebr my thread about her Mom, she's planning, unless there is an emergency, to go to Florida after New Year's to be with her Mom.  If she has to cancel Christmas, we'll go to the restaurant, so stay home. I probably won't feel much like celebrating, if something bad happensto her Mom.

I'm glad you have a chance to spend Christmas with someone. You're right, it's not about the food, it's about the company. I hope things go well and her mother is in my prayers.

Glad you're spending Christmas with friends. Much nicer than going to a restaurant. And I agree - it's not the food - but the company that is important. Have a wonderful time!

Have a great time!

It's only been in the last 5 years or so that I've been going to my brother's for Christmas dinner.  We had a lot of obstacles to overcome from when we were growing up, but we've both been putting in an effort to talk at least once a month, and get together at least every 3 or 4 months.

During the times we were estranged, I either spent Christmas by myself (I'm not married or in a relationship), or at a friend's house, or hosted some friends at my house. It was still fun being with people I care about.

Have you considered hosting a dinner at your home one year? Inviting some friends over?  It could be a pot-luck type dinner where everyone brings something.  The best Christmas I had was with my brother about 4 years ago when they were living in an apartment while their house was being rebuilt (from a fire).  It was a furnished apartment and had really only the bare basics.  So his wife's family and me, brought over not only food, but pots and pans, utensils, chairs and in my case a couple of small appliances  LOL  That Christmas was really about the people, and it meant so much for everyone to participate and come together to make a special Christmas at a difficult time.

Have a wonderful time!

My sister and I didn't talk to each other for 14 years.....and over really stupid stuff (we realized a few years ago that our mother had really caused some damage there). When my niece got married, she sent us a wedding invitation. I wasn't going to go, but then Rick talked some sense into me and we went to the wedding. And had a blast. Not too long after that, my sister and I purposely got together to talk things out. It was difficult (it's never easy), but we got through things. And now? It's a rare day that goes by that I don't at least talk to her on the phone. Or a text or two (or three).

The one thing my father wanted to see before he died was my sister and I sitting at the same table for a meal. And talking and laughing. The last Thanksgiving before he passed away, we all went up to my parents' for Thanksgiving dinner. And as we were all sitting around the table, my father got tears in his eyes. We knew what he was crying about. He got his wish. And he died about two weeks later.

Life is way too short to fight. About anything. I'm serious. It took me awhile to figure that out. People don't agree all the time. That doesn't make one person right and the other person wrong. It's just the way it is. My sister and I still don't agree on a lot of things. But it's Ok.

That's great! Hope you have a great time!

Have a lovely time!