- #1
wolram
Gold Member
Dearly Missed
- 4,446
- 558
What was your most memorable holiday good or bad?
BobG said:Christmas as a 10-year-old. My mom was in the hospital for a gall bladder operation and it was getting close to my sister's birthday and getting close to Christmas (they were a week apart). She didn't get out in time for my sister's birthday, but she did get out in time for Christmas.
I made a Christmas card in school. The outside was blue construction paper, the inside was oversized white paper folded and cut to make a pop-up snowflake when the card was opened, plus it had a copied Christmas poem written inside. I brought it home after school on Christmas Eve only to realize I'd somehow lost it on the way home.
Surprisingly, my dad took me out to look for it. Surprising, because he always harped on doing the smart thing and searching for a paper Christmas card on the windy plains of Kansas isn't exactly the smart thing. We searched until it got dark and he never once suggested giving up. I finally had to accept it was lost and suggested we go on back home. I'll still always remember that, though.
Even without the Christmas card, it was pretty much the dream Christmas. My mom made oatmeal cookies (with no raisins), which I ate out of a tupperware container. The silly things you love when you're 10-years-old.
It was pretty much the dream Christmas right up until she collapsed on the kitchen floor. Eventually, we were herded to the nextdoor neighbors with an ambulance and flashing lights in the front yard. And, several hours later, my dad finally came back from the hospital. My mom was doing okay in the hospital, but we were going off to my Aunt's and Uncle's house until she got out.
Just to add a finishing touch to the evening, when we entered the house, we discovered the cat had killed our three fish (one for each kid) and left the half eaten bodies littered around the living room.
The next morning, we did a rather subdued version of the ritual of opening presents, then hauled them off to our room and were allowed to pick out a couple of them to take with us to the Aunt's and Uncle's house.
Some things in life just aren't fair. That was our last Christmas together. It turned out my mom developed an infection from the gall bladder operation. She eventually recovered from that and got out of the hospital, but it turned out she caught hepatitus during her hospital stay. At the end of a gall bladder operation and serious infection, the hepatitus wound up being too much and she died that Spring.
BobG said:Christmas as a 10-year-old. My mom was in the hospital for a gall bladder operation and it was getting close to my sister's birthday and getting close to Christmas (they were a week apart). She didn't get out in time for my sister's birthday, but she did get out in time for Christmas.
I made a Christmas card in school. The outside was blue construction paper, the inside was oversized white paper folded and cut to make a pop-up snowflake when the card was opened, plus it had a copied Christmas poem written inside. I brought it home after school on Christmas Eve only to realize I'd somehow lost it on the way home.
Surprisingly, my dad took me out to look for it. Surprising, because he always harped on doing the smart thing and searching for a paper Christmas card on the windy plains of Kansas isn't exactly the smart thing. We searched until it got dark and he never once suggested giving up. I finally had to accept it was lost and suggested we go on back home. I'll still always remember that, though.
Even without the Christmas card, it was pretty much the dream Christmas. My mom made oatmeal cookies (with no raisins), which I ate out of a tupperware container. The silly things you love when you're 10-years-old.
It was pretty much the dream Christmas right up until she collapsed on the kitchen floor. Eventually, we were herded to the nextdoor neighbors with an ambulance and flashing lights in the front yard. And, several hours later, my dad finally came back from the hospital. My mom was doing okay in the hospital, but we were going off to my Aunt's and Uncle's house until she got out.
Just to add a finishing touch to the evening, when we entered the house, we discovered the cat had killed our three fish (one for each kid) and left the half eaten bodies littered around the living room.
The next morning, we did a rather subdued version of the ritual of opening presents, then hauled them off to our room and were allowed to pick out a couple of them to take with us to the Aunt's and Uncle's house.
Some things in life just aren't fair. That was our last Christmas together. It turned out my mom developed an infection from the gall bladder operation. She eventually recovered from that and got out of the hospital, but it turned out she caught hepatitus during her hospital stay. At the end of a gall bladder operation and serious infection, the hepatitus wound up being too much and she died that Spring.
This can vary from person to person, but generally a holiday is considered the "best" if it is enjoyable, stress-free, and memorable. On the other hand, a holiday is considered the "worst" if it is unpleasant, full of stress, or disappointing in some way.
There are a few things you can do to increase the chances of having a great holiday. First, plan ahead and do your research to find the best deals and activities. Second, be open to trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone. And finally, make sure to take care of your physical and mental health throughout your holiday.
Some common factors that can contribute to a holiday being considered "worst" include bad weather, unexpected incidents or emergencies, financial issues, and disagreements or conflicts with travel companions.
If your holiday is not going as planned, try to find ways to adapt and make the best of the situation. This could include finding alternative activities, changing your itinerary, or simply adjusting your attitude and focusing on the positive aspects of the holiday.
Yes, reflecting on both the best and worst holiday experiences can be beneficial. It allows you to learn from past experiences and make improvements for future holidays. Additionally, reflecting on the positive aspects of a holiday can bring happy memories and gratitude, while reflecting on the negative aspects can help you identify areas for growth and improvement.