You just have to make the best of what you have and the memories you have. Having said that, I've never been able to see a problem in having had my parents live forever. I miss them both.

I still got my mom. All my kids. Lost one granbaby to miscarriage. All in all we are lucky. Looking forward to Christmas.

Someone or multiple people can start to fill the void that's what we try to do, we host the holidays, all of them and all family from both sides are welcome. Our thought is that our kids need to see traditions passed on so when we're gone they can host and keep the memories alive. Just my 2 cents

If your glue is gone, you are likely the glue for others now.

Well said.

My loved ones memories are glued to my soul

This
Had one of my grandkids here yesterday until about 15 minutes ago.
Did my heart good, but now I need a nap, lol.

I hear ya, Family is all gone, kids are in Texas 2,000 miles away, no grandkids, Just me and the bride. Holiday traditions? with who? Now...Christmas is just another day in paradise....

If I ever get the building I'm dreaming about I plan to host them all. At the rate I'm going I will be the senior in the family by the time it gets built.

Yes my ants and uncles and all the cousins no longer get together since the grandparents passed.

My wife's mom is doing Christmas this year for the first time. Her mom always did it but she died at 2a.m. on Christmas night folling the celebration at her house last year.

I do wish I still had my grandparents.

I'm one of two oldest left in my family that really maintains contact with any of the other aunts and uncles kids, elders are all gone long time now.

The immediate act of loss improves with age, it never leaves for sure, and losing my eldest son this year was a real heart breaker, still feel it for sure.

I don't condemn others who can't let it go, I have done so many times in my life for those I have cared about, it's nothing we can stop or fix, so I choose to not deal with it and make things best for what's left of my family and my kids who have their own families.

There is always the mix for the glue, some one just has to step up and make it so !!

Not alot left of my family, least we don't worry law enforcement anymore so they can probably enjoy the holidays a little more since my uncles are not out in the yard drunk and fighting, lol.

It's a TERRIBLE time for alot of people though!

So true cathryn, sad but true.

I try to keep upbeat during the holidays but to tell you the truth [ not trying to rain on any ones joy] but anymore it is getting harder to do.

Let Christmas always be a joyous time of year. Home videos (esp older ones) are a great thing to watch when everyone is together.

Everyone have a great holiday season.

I will be in Florida for a few days at a time during this holiday

MERRY CHRISTMAS

First Christmas since my brother died, so imagine it will be a particularly bad year for my Dad. Won't be seeing him since we live 1000 miles apart.

But, no matter what goes on in life, I try to enjoy Christmas. You have to remember the reason for the season, and not focus so much yourself. You might not have the family celebrations you did in the past, but you still have a very good reason to be thankful and happy on Christmas.

Some years ago I ask permission to trap an older couples farm Over the following years we slowly got to know each other to some degree .They did not have children and their siblings where also aging and did not visit much During the trapping season I would plan my trap checking times to when I could stop to see them once in a while Sometimes I would just ask if they needed help with anything .Other times I would stay for more than an hour just talking .Aa time went on they became more house bound I would pick up some groceries or get a gas can filled for them . WE had come to terms concerning trusting each other and there was no issues about things being paid for or other such types of possible problems . They came to the point that they where planning to relocate to a retirement home . I knew that they where doing the right thing because my MOM had dealt with the same decisions about 10 years earlier . Anyway that year at Thanksgiving they had told me they where not going to visit any of there brothers or sisters and no one was coming there ..So my wife as usual had a huge meal planned for the 2 of us plus her parents and one of her aunts After we had ate I suggest that we make up two plates with left overs of everything we had just ate and I would drop them off They only lived about 4 miles from us so it was a quick trip I went to the door and knocked and they where at the table finishing their meal I opened and left myself in and mentioned that I had meals for them They replied that they where just finishing up there meal for the day .I told them I would leave the plates and get them sometime later And I said it was a lot of food and would likely be more than one meal for each of them of them They where so happy to see me and they wanted me to stay and visit I said I have company at home so I needed to go The man was almost in tears and his wife who did the cooking was so thankful that she now had food already prepared and only needed to be warmed for the next two days .They where proud people that had always made it on their own so I said my goodbyes and did not linger .I intentionally waited a few days before I decided to knock on their door again They where still beaming from my last visit And almost immediately the man was nearly in tears again And his wife was talking excitedly about how good the food was and how she did not need to cook for a few days about how much they really enjoyed the food and on and on It took about 10 minutes to deliver the food to them and another 10 minutes to get two plates of food together for them to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal But there is no doubt in my mind that I WAS THE ONE THAT WAS MOST BLESSED THAT DAY My wife was HAPPY TO SHARE HER COOKING SKILLS .AND IT WAS NOTICABLELY OBVIOUS HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO THEM FOR US TO DROP OF A .MEAL We all are the glue some times and some times. we are in need of some glue and TLC from a friend or relative or maybe even a trapper that some 20 years earlier had ask to trap their farm and now was saying thanks for sharing your land with a now somewhat slower trapper but still glad to be able to have a nice bit of land to catch a few mink or muskrats or coon on each season And it was so close to home also We sometimes need to see the possibilities that are there for us .And we sometimes need to reach out and embrace those things that at fist glance look like problems or more work .I had a preconceived idea about the asking of permission to trap the farm when I went to ask I was very doubtful that I would get the OK to do it and I even thought the man might give me a bunch of grief about why he would not allow me access .But I did it in spite of my concerns But it turne dout to be a good arrange for al concerned .So we all need to strive to be the glue at east sometimes .

Write a check to St Judes childrens hospital, or adopt a down on their luck family for some Christmas stuff, the Sheriffs dept. can help with that. You'll rediscover the reason for the season.