It's a different kind of holiday season here, and I'm having difficulty putting my finger on it. It's like my entire circle is changing, and fairly rapidly. So I'm feeling more unsettled about the holidays than I have in years. What has been contstant is no more. Much of my support system seems to be shifting, if not collapsing.
We will likely have a birthday dinner on Nov. 24th for my DSis#2, since she'll be in the Chicago suburbs for Thanksgiving. But I haven't gotten any details. Thanksgiving will be at my DD and DSIL's house, a small group of 6, I believe. DD, DSIL, me, DMom, his DSis and DNephew.
Our widows group is having a Christmas get-together on Dec. 10th, but not sure I'm going to go. Changing dynamics and I'm feeling "stuck" when I need to be moving forward. I'm not sure I'll continue with the group after this year.
There will be a December get-together for book club. I'm assuming it will be Christmas-themed, since our book for December has a Christmas plot. Will know more about that this afternoon.
Bible study will continue every two weeks, so we'll gather at some point in December. We meet every 2 weeks and our 2nd meeting in Dec. is scheduled for the Thursday before Christmas. Not sure that's going to happen. That group, too, is in a transition. In the last 2 years, 2 members have passed away, a third had a stroke and has not (and will not) recovered enough to rejoin us. Another is currently in a rehab center, following serious illness, and yet one more has had a flare-up of a long-time illness. There really are only 3-4 "regulars" for this important gathering.
We will have a retirement luncheon on Dec. 16th for the last of my long-time colleagues to retire (at the end of the year). It will be downtown at a nice restaurant where the 5 of us have gathered before. We'll all contribute to her meal and a retirement gift from our group of friends.
Christmas Eve is typically at my chef-friend's house, with a mix of family and friends. They've not said anything formally, but I think it's assumed that I'll be there.
I'll likely host a light dinner on Christmas Day, late afternoon. Formal planning will commence on Thanksgiving, at some point after dinner. There's a possibility that it will be at DDs and DSILs, though, and that is OK with me.
There's typically been an annual Christmas party at a boating friend's home. At the recent wedding I attended, someone asked if they'd set the date for their party. The response was that the invite would be on Facebook, as usual, and visible to those who are invited. Guess that, after 25 years, I'm no longer on that list!
I'm thinking about hosting some friends between Christmas and New Years, but still kind of sorting things out ... And, I'm also considering hosting a Weds. "souper supper" during the winter as a way to stay close with my friends.