Conference turris::womannotes-v3

    Fortunately this year (unlike some years previous) I will have plenty
    of family and friends with whom to spend the holidays.
    
    However, while we are on the subject, I just wanted to point out that
    if you find yourself in the position of having to spend the holidays
    alone, that there are other things to do than sit at home and eat a
    Turkey Swanson Dinner and watch Christmas specials on TV...things that
    may help someone else spend Christmas with their family.
    
    Last Christmas my mother and I were feeling depressed because it was
    the first time in years that it was just the two of us, and it didn't
    seem worth it to have a big celebration.  So instead we volunteered to
    help serve dinner at a state-run nursing home.  The group organizing
    the volunteering was a Jewish group, the idea being that Jews, since
    they don't celebrate Christmas, should volunteer to do work that some
    Christians would otherwise have to do so that they could stay home and
    celebrate with their families.
    
    It was a lot of fun.  It was frantic, running around cooking and
    serving, but the residents of the nursing home were obviously glad to
    be served a large and festive Christmas dinner, and I am sure the
    regular workers in the home who would have had to be there otherwise
    were glad to be home.  And, most importantly, it kept me and my mother
    from getting depressed about being alone on Christmas. 
    
    I am not sure how you would go about volunteering for a group like this
    (my mother handled that part) but look around...anyone got suggestions?
    
    D!

maybe one could contact area churches about such events.

-Hamp

    For years, my parents spent Christmas day cooking and serving dinner
    to group homes of mentally retarded adults who had no families to
    go home to.  My father always did the cooking and my mother served
    the meals.
    
    They always found it quite a rewarding experience.
    
    Sheri
    

    Many colleges have foreign students who become abondoned on campus
    during our holidays.  Sometimes even the cafeterias are closed.
    
    One of the best Thanksgivings ever involved five foreign students
    (all I could fit in my car).  I cooked a big feast and we went for
    a long hike and ate dinner and talked about cultures and late that
    night I drove them all back to campus.  The pumpkin pie was a big
    curiosity; sampled with caution and then it disappeared fast.
    
    Only time I've ever had real live Indians at my Thanksgiving table.
    :^)
    
       Margaret                                                  

	My family has always taken in "strays" for Holidays.  If you're
stuck for a place to go for either Thanksgiving or Christmas, we'd love
to have you. (Thanksgiving will be in Sturbridge, Christmas on Cape Cod)


					--Doug

    We've also had a habit of taking in 'strays' and would welcome
    anyone who wants to treck out to NW Worcester county.
    
    Bonnie

    If you can stand stand an overzealous cocker spaniel, a two year ols
    who thinks she's a dinosaur and a five year old who would rather play with
    computers than baseballs, come on over.
    
    You can bring dessert. I hate to bake but LOVE to cook!
    
    Kate

    There's also room chez Schutzman (with the three kids, two cats,
    and a fireplace) . . . let me know ahead of time so I can make
    enough, as I cook up a storm.  
    
    --bonnie