I feel like Charlie Brown

[pattilou52]

I just watched a Charlie Brown Christmas and I have to admit I am feeling quite the same as Charlie Brown.   Somehow Christmas just doesn't seem right this year and I don't know why.   Maybe it's because I am not feeling the true meaning of Christmas.  We are being bombarded by the news media informing us about the sad state of retail, people losing their jobs, failing retirement plans and the general disaster of the ecomony.   But no one even mentions Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men.  

Yesterday we got a memo at work informing us that our company will shutdown on the 23rd of December and will not reopen until the 5th of January.   People are being given the option of  either dipping into next year's vacation days or taking the days without pay.   Since I work in the IT department, we run 24/7 and  I will have to work anyway so this does not affect me.   I always have to work the holidays and this year I won't mind as much.   I am sure my husband will get laid off again by the end of the year and this time of year it will be a longer lay off than last time.   But he is registered for school in January and there are a list of projects for him to take care of around the house.   We are lucky because I have a good job and we have no debt to speak of other than a mortgage that is 3 years away from being paid off.   My daughter got her hours cut pretty drastically at work too - after exams this week she has a 6 week break and will be bored to death during this time with no hours to work.

I am so sad and don't know how to get out of this funk.  Is there really any meaning left in Christmas at all?    

[namesjusgrammy]

Dec. 21, 2008 at 10:51 AM Patti, I was kind of feeling the same way, walked in on a coworker crying in the restroom a couple of weeks ago. She was having some financial problems and was worried that her 10 year old wouldn't have Christmas. I was excited, there was something that I could do to help. I talked to her about paying forward and took her shopping the next week. It really lifted my spirits. I am in a funk because my boss constantly threatens us with our jobs, Kevin got a smaller than normal pay raise, and bonus due to the economy. We like you, are lucky not to have much debt, so I can't complain, but it is a scary time for all of us. I think we will survive, but I kind of wish my Gram was still alive to discuss these times with. I'm here if you need an ear.