Gone to the lake

We're leaving town for the weekend--and I'm not taking my laptop (gasp!). This is our new family Christmas observance. Being an adult orphan means that you no longer have a place to go home for Christmas. But my brother and I were taught to make the best of situations, so that's what we're doing. Or, at least, experimenting with--it may take a while to figure out what "best" is. It was my idea to travel instead of exchanging Christmas gifts. Now, I think maybe I would have liked both :-).

I'm skipping my graduation for this. I had intended to go, have been talking about it for a year or so. But I always pictured my mother there. Now, I think the ceremony would just make me sad.

I'm reading a book called Midlife Orphan: Facing Life's Changes Now that Your Parents are Gone by Jane Brooks. Here's a quote:

Every joyous celebrarion will now have a taste of bittersweet when we remember parents who are not here to share in our happiness.

That applies to graduation, to my new job, and to celebrating holidays. It sucks. But I'll make the best of it, because that's what my parents taught me to do. And it was good teaching--making the best of it has its own reward.     #

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