Holidazed

I got a phone call this morning from my parents, asking whether I had figured out what I'm doing for Christmas. They're going to visit my sister and her family back east (why we refer to it as "back east" is beyond me; my one grandfather was the last member of my family before my kids and one of my sister's to be born anywhere other than California, so referring to it as though it's where we came from is a bit misleading), and my kids come out here right after Christmas, so they already knew I wouldn't be going out with them to see my nephews. QIR will be visiting her own folks in New Mexico, so spending the holiday with her is not an option. My best friends here in town will be out of the country. I could go visit one, the other or both of my brothers, but I don't love the idea of going to the Central Valley, and I'd be surprised if they aren't spending the holiday with their respective spouses.

I'm faced with the prospect of spending Christmas alone, for the first time in my life. I've spent Thanksgiving alone before, but never Christmas. It seems just a bit daunting and depressing.