Support NeoGAF

[TheDrowningMan]

it seems some of the most heart-breaking, miserable things seem to occur around this time of year. Well, not funny, more incredibly depressing, but whatever. I generally kind of close my eyes and bare my way through this time and hope the new year brings something better with it...

A friend of mine suffered the most heartbreaking loss only a few days ago....I think when such things happen around this time they're magnified because everyone is about making plans and having fun with their loved ones....

 

[tedtropy]

Christmas in England is shit.
This year I'm spending it in Americaland with my new American family.
Any tips?

Sure, cruise around with your family in a gigantic SUV that gets 2 miles to the gallon while checking out the Christmas lights at 2AM, crank your 'system' up as loud as possible with the windows down, and crack various offensive jokes about 'those damn fer'ners and how they took your job'. It's the American way!

 

[B-B-Bomba!]

Hmm ... a common experience, it seems. I'm still on the side of 'everything ends up wonderful and happy at Christmas', because my parents and I have always spent it, trading years to host, with my mums sisters family, who are a wonderful bunch of people. The magic does seem to dim with age, and now I seem to go through a long stint of grumpiness before announcing, at some point late in December, that the festive spirit has officially descended upon the world and I. Ultimately I subscribe to the 'it's what you make of it' school of thought, and it seems over the years that my spirit has always been rewarded for trying to contribute positively to the Christmas atmosphere.

I've more to add, but am leaving work for home, so will continue anon ...