Ugh.

Neither Master or myself are Christians. We're heathens. *pft* But we have always celebrated the holidays with family. Both sides, His and mine, are Christian. And of course there are children involved as well. So we look at it more from the point of view that it's just that time of the year where you get together with family.

This year is harder. It isn't that far away at all. But this year is more.... difficult. A few years ago my grandfather had stopped hosting Christmas out at his house. But he still continued to come see everyone. So we would all gather at my mom's house. This year... well this year he won't be coming. He'll be sitting in a nursing home, probably not even realizing that it is Christmas. Probably not even thinking about any of us because nine times out of ten he doesn't remember that we even exist. Catch him on the right day and yes, he'll know he has grandchildren but not our names. Catch him on any other day and hell... he might even remember that he has two sons. As a result, how could he possibly have grandchildren?

It's hard. Really hard. And as much as we all want him to be at peace we are all also hopeful, selfishly, that he doesn't pass away on Christmas. Honestly that is more for the younger members of our family than for us.

As a result of my grandfather not coming to Christmas at her house my father won't be either. My mother and father have been divorced since I was 17 years old. But my mother and her current husband had my dad over for Christmas so that Grandpa wouldn't have to make another stop and her house is bigger than my dad's. But this year that isn't going to happen. So we'll be meeting up with my dad sometime early this upcoming week.

On the other side of this stress is my mother-in-law. Master and her haven't spoken since September. It was ugly. Master tried many times to basically tell her to back off and leave it alone. But she couldn't. That just isn't the kind of person she is. She has to have the last word. She is the one that is always right. And everyone has to treat her with kid gloves or she automatically climbs up on a cross. Anyway... since she wouldn't let it go and wouldn't stop escalating the matter by taking one low blow after another Master went off. And quite honestly He held a lot back. He went off, but not as much as He could have.

As a result, they haven't spoken. As Christmas is getting closer we were wondering if she was going to contact us. She hasn't. Master is holding His ground and I don't blame Him. If He were to contact her, in her mind she would have won. And she would hold it over both of us. And so we wait. And wait.

This Halloween passed by without seeming like Halloween, and that's my favorite holiday. And this Christmas is passing by more stressful than usual.