Thankful...

I was feeling pretty 'Poor Me', earlier today... I was reading beautiful memories, of Thanksgiving, from other bloggers. I always get way into Thanksgiving, and Christmas, tho my family doesn't. They don't seem to care, one way or the other.{ John even grumbled, helping me bring in the groceries} I always, I know, go way out, with too much food, I spend hours and days preparing for these Holidays... I want them to have something I never had growing up. So instead of having a 'poor me' attitude, because my family doesn't understand why the Holidays are such a 'big deal', I'll give Thanks. I am Thankful that my children will never know, as a child, what it is like, to not have a Thanksgiving. I am Thankful that my children will never know what is like, as a child, watching other families enjoy a beautiful meal, and not having one themselves. I am thankful my children never saw a Christmas Tree, as a child, at someone else's home, and wondered what it must be like, on Christmas Morning in that home. I am Thankful my children never witnessed their parents fighting. I am Thankful my children never saw their Mother drunk and abusive. I am Thankful my children never had to worry about their parents. I am Thankful that my children don't know any different. I am Thankful, that I lived through it, and love the Holidays. My siblings, not so much. My sister Chery, who I lost several years ago, hated the Holidays. She did her best, for her family, but in private conversations, would tell me how much she wished they would never come. My brother, well, he is always 'sick', and doesn't want to go anywhere,on the Holidays, and my sister Merry, she does a great job, for her family, but I know the Holidays are tuff for her too. How sad...{ Merry lives 2000 miles away, and has since she was 18} I have been a 'Pollyanna', my whole life... I moved out on my own, when I was 15, and was bound and determined I would have Thanksgiving, at my house, that year. {and every year after} My Dad and Brother came, and it was great. I saved, and bought a Christmas Tree, only me and my Best Friend, Dolcy {my beloved Great Dane.} celebrated, but it didn't matter, it was my tree, my ornaments, my Christmas. I still have them. I am sorry for those who aren't Thankful, so many have so much, and don't even know it. Barb C. P.S. I love my mother very much, she is still living, and is 89 years old. I was her primary care giver for many years, she is now in a nursing home, Mom is totally blind, has a Menengioma, {brain tumor}, and suffers from grand mall seizers. She can not walk, and it takes 2 people to transfer her. Holidays are hard, for people living with an alcoholic. It seems like, at special occasions, they like to drink all the more. When my mother drank, she got very abusive, to everyone around her. She was a sweet, loving, kind hearted person, sober. My siblings are all much older than me, and endured much more. My mother was married once before, and they had a different father, who was also an alcoholic. I was very blessed, my Dad didn't drink. He saved me. I thank God for him.