Sounds very exciting Morgs!! Can't wait to hear more.

DF: So glad to hear you had a great Christmas too! Good luck with the phone call.

I think this is the best Christmas that I've had in years. It is the first year in a long while that I didn't feel obscured by grief and longing. It is there, but it just doesn't feel quite as strong as other years. The present had way more pull this year.

Hi DF (hope the phone call was okay)and STRM (so glad you're over the bug)
Happy Christmas and I'm so happy you both had such a good day also

Reread my post and boy was I on a high yesterday Typical emotional over reaction for Morgs although I'm still pleased with the day Reason - over the years I've become more and more of a hermit outside of work - not socialising or even seeing another human on many/most weekends Have my dog for company and exercise and **mostly** that's okay though not what you'd call healthy

Well my T has been trying to nudge me into more social endeavours **without luck** but when she invited me to join the volunteer group of which she's a part to serve Christmas lunch to needy and lonely people at a local town club I jumped at it (a) to do something useful for others on the day and (b) to have more time with T and get to know her better – not that there was much time as we were flat out Yes, even at my age I've become very attached to her so this was a very special situation for me Also met one of her daughters (4 daughters and 4 sons)and loaned her a pair of Christmas earrings to wear - sigh

Somehow after picking some people up in my car I ended up sort of in charge of the bus passengers - a very disparate group age and health wise plus a few **other** areas and my very outgoing self emerged and we all ended up have lots of laughs - in fact gained about 10 more people on the home trip Usually I'm full of self-loathing when my loud outgoing self emerges and go the full post event beat up, and though there's a tinge of that, I've realised it was appropriate to the occasion Can't wait to tell T when I see her in **17** more days - gulp

Also, had 2 rides on a Harley trike around a very famous Australian motor racing track – I was in hog heaven
So with all of that it was the best Christmas I've had in years and have signed up to help again next year.

So there you go - not really exciting to anyone else but exciting to me (so easily amused!!!)

Looking forward to hearing your details.

Morgs

Morgs,

SO good to hear! I think one of the coolest things in the world is how when we help other people, it ends up helping us even more. Good for you taking the chance to step out. I'm so glad it turned out so well. Although I must say Morgs, it was all too easy to see you as the life of the party. I am sorry that at times you've been ashamed at that part of yourself, but glad that you were able to see it for the positive force it really is this time!

And how lovely you got to spend that kind of time with your T!

DF, hope you survived your family phone call. Made it through mine intact I am happy to say although it takes a while to get the bad taste out of my mouth. It helped that the one sister I'm close to (she's also done LOTS of therapy ) was visiting. Just remember you can come hear to be heard and seen for the wonderful person you are.

STRM,
I'm not sure how far or close you are to me, but evidently that is one well-traveled stomach virus as it has ran through my whole family also. Glad to hear you're feeling better as that was one ugly virus!

PF
Thanks for being the spirit of Christmas cheer all around the forum!

AG

Morgs,

I am so glad to hear that you had a great time with the volunteer group and getting to be with your T and her daughter. It sounds like you had an awesome time!

DF, it is good to hear you had a good time and your phone call to your family went well also. Don't worry you will find that special person to snuggle up with and it will be so worth it!
But until then I am sending you this:

STRM,
It was very good to read that you had the best xmas in such a long time. I hope you can have so many more times like this!

Frosty, I hope you had a great xmas as well, you so do deserve to have one!

AG, Happy for you that you made it through your family call. It was great that you could talk with your sister to whom you are close too. I also hope your family had a great time together as well!

I sincerely hope that all here on the forum had wonderful moments with their familys as well!

OMG!! Didn't I respond to you dear people???!!
Dfried, STRM, AG, frosty, Marsh - sheesh, I must have been OFF and GONE!!! Thank you so much for your kind responses!! Love to you all
Morgs