1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas
2. Please refer to it as a ‘hoopla’ and not the dreaded ‘m’-word (which, for you bloggy newbies, is meme...no mean old memes this time).
3. You have to specifically tag people when you’re done. None of this "if you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed…then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you — but the more, the merrier to get this ‘hoopla’ circulating through the Blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I’d like to get as many people involved as possible.
1. I do not enjoy anything having to do with Christmas now, except blog posts that many of you have put up!
2. I don’t decorate for Christmas but do put up my little composite (hard plastic) Christmas tree with lights and decorations built into it that I featured in one of my videos.
3. Christmas is a time of grieving for my husband, because he hasn’t spent a Christmas with his children since 1998, due to an adversarial divorce. I spend time trying to help him feel better.
4. I used to like to sing carols and to play carols on the guitar and piano for others to sing, when I was young.
5. A nice Christmas memory I have is when I visited my biological family, who was living in Germany at the time, and got to drink gluwein and eat brockwurst and shop at the marketplace.
6. My mother attempted suicide on Christmas Eve in 1980. She ended up dying nine days later from leukemia.
7. I enjoy getting Christmas cards from distant friends so that I can see how they are doing.
8. My favorite Christmas present was a blue Roadmaster bicycle when I was 8.
9. When my grandparents were alive, I used to love to visit them for Christmas, and then go to my Aunt Stella’s house nearby to see all of my cousins. I had an Uncle, Louis Hrabak, who used to play with model trains and I enjoyed those as a child.
10. I like those little model trains they have in some restaurants that go all over the restaurant (usually above the diners). This is not a Christmas memory, but I thought I’d mention it.
11. My husband’s office is closed for four days over Christmas so he will be home.
12. When I lived in Arizona years ago, I had a Christmas cactus and took my two dogs to get their pictures with Santa at PetsMart.
I don’t think I’ll tag anyone this year, but just wish everyone a wonderful time with their friends and family---or alone!
14 comments:
oh, olivia, it's no wonder that christmas would be such a difficult time. i'm so sorry about your mom. and i'm sure it breaks love hubbie's heart about his kids.
i'm sending loads of love and hugs and healing vibes your way. xoxo
Thank you, Leah, so much. I truly wonder how Christmas is for people with families and children and presents and food and special family stories and traditions and family ornaments. I understand how it would be wonderful but don't feel as though it includes me---in fact, it feels like it specifically excludes me on every level, which is probably why I don't have a lot of good feelings about it.
Thank you for sharing your love with me. This is the first Christmas in a long time that I've felt like I've had friends to share Christmas with albeit via the blogosphere---it's very, very real to me.
Peace, blessings, and love to you, Leah,
O
That's why you are such a beautiful soul.
God bless you dear Olivia!
Merry Christmas!
Olivia--while I had no idea I was offering you the opportunity to tap into so much of the stuff which has driven Christmas, for you, to a place no one wants to go, I honor you for your willingness to lay it all out there.
You continue, over and over, to amaze me. You have an authenticity which so many who claim to be authentic can only wish for. You don't claim it, you simply live it. You do so with such faith in humanity that I cannot help but be encouraged, even when you have a post which tells of pain, past or present.
You are a gift, Olivia!
Reading your list this morning brings to mind how little we know about one another and how posts like this can provide glimpses we might never see otherwise. I'm glad Rick tagged you for sharing such things can be healing. I'm sorry for the loss of your mom and your husband's estrangement from his kids, both of which make this season challenging. Like you, I have few Christmas decorations on display other than on my Small Reflections blog. I loved going caroling when I was younger and wish someone would come caroling by my house these days. I have my Christmas cards ready to mail finally, but can't find the stamps I bought ... so I guess I'll be going to the post office tomorrow. I hope they're open. If not, the cards will be even later ... sigh!
My Hoopla list was posted at Small Reflections on December 17th after I was tagged by Mama Zen.
Hugs and blessings,
And you, too, Carmen...a special Christmas of love and blessings from inside and above and around, O
Rick, You have given me MY Christmas gift. Thank you for this beautiful acknowledgment, Love, O
Thank you, Virginia, for caring and sharing, and leaving me your lovely comment. Peace and joy to you, O
Thank you for sharing some difficult memories Olivia. I wish you and LoveHubbie a peaceful few days to yourself, to recharge, ready for a happy year in 2008.
Thank you, Patti! That is a great way to look at it, isn't it. I wish you a wonderful and peaceful holiday with your family as well! Blessings and love, O
Hi Olivia, Just sending you a hug and gratitude for sharing yourSelf with us through your blog. I've enjoyed following your journey this year...Look forward to seeing you in the new year too! Beverly
Peace, Olivia ... Peace.
Very sad about your mother ... and LoveHubbie's children. You are a sweet woman and so good for your man. Be well, dear one.
Peace to you every single day of the year Olivia! Your commitment to your spiritual growth and healing as well as your openess to tell your personal story is inspirational to all you visit with you.
Thank you Beverly, Eileen, and Kate! I've loved sharing myself, my life, my thoughts with you three this year as well. It has been healing for me, and delightful to get to know each of you. Love always, O
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