What happened to November? It is December already!
Was I asleep? Where have I been?
Does anyone else feel like this?
If you are not one of those people who was preparing for a Thanksgiving Feast or making travel arrangements to visit family, like me, this is for you ~
For me November was not about food. It was not filled with plans to bake and get together with family. Things have changed.
The entire month of November is completely different when you aren't putting together a Thanksgiving Day meal.
Truth.
If this is your first year without the usual Holiday Traditions, you feel like a fish out of water and find it hard to breathe. You don't know what to do with yourself since you don't have the shopping, the preparing, the countless lists of things to do.
I know. And I empathize.
You feel numb and in pain at the same time.
It is impossible to explain.
If you have recently lost your family due to divorce or you've just lost a loved one and now the whole idea of the Holidays feels so wrong... I know and I understand.
The thing about change is that you have to adapt.
You have to survive.
You must get through it.
The key is to replace the old ways with new ones. Make things special in a new way. Be with the living and remember those who have passed but don't stay in the sorrow.
After my divorce my daughter and I created new ways of celebrating.
We did Thanksgiving Brunch in Our Pajamas!
We did Christmas Eve in Our Pajamas!
We did Christmas Day at the Movies!
One year we went to Disneyland on Christmas Day
but I don't recommend that one... it was crazy crowded.
The point is we changed it up and made it fun.
We baked, we drank Mimosas, we shopped, we watched movies or went to a movie.
We did things differently and that's what made it special.
When I moved to Illinois things changed again.
This year we didn't have a "family" get together because our kids are all in other states
or doing other things.
We decided to go to the Zoo because it was open and we both love animals.
But Mother Nature changed that... it was way too cold! So we went out to breakfast/lunch in town... yes there was a restaurant open on Thanksgiving Day, and you know what... it was busy.
Then we went to a movie... Horrible Bosses 2... laughter is a good thing!
I highly recommend seeing a fun or silly movie when you are going through these changes.
Don't go see a movie about traditional family holidays or a heart-wrenching movie!
Trust me on this!
The St. Louis Zoo has a Wild Lights Winter Wonderland after dark starting the day after Thanksgiving. We decided that sounds wonderful.
It's a 2-hour drive to St. Louis from here. We went down in the afternoon and got there so we could see the new River's Edge exhibit before the sun went down.
If you have never been to a zoo at sunset in the fall I recommend it.
I had expected snow to be on the ground but it had all melted. I'm never going to be used to this weather.
I was so thrilled to see this baby!
I didn't know there was a baby elephant there so it was a wonderful surprise.
How beautiful is a Black Swan at Sunset?
As the sun was setting the lights were coming on.
The Zoo closed and we had to go out the front gate and wait for it to reopen for the Wild Lights.
What's not to love about things all lit up at night?
I mean, seriously... wrap lights around a tree or a pole and it just makes everything better!
Richard takes really good pictures at night with his camera so I am sharing his photos too.
Colored lights snowballs!
Isn't this the best snowman? I love him!
Snow people and trees and everything in colored lights :)
Flamingoes!!!... And a Peacock!
The biggest ornaments we've ever seen! And the blue one looks like a happy face!
Polar bears and penguins ~
There were these icicle lights hanging from the trees that looked like they were melting, very cool.
This Lion was amazing! And this butterfly ~
Swan Lake
The Lakeside Cafe with reflection on the lake...
So that was our Thanksgiving this year. It was definitely different and special.
I don't know what we will be doing next year but it will be fine, whatever we do because we are adapting and making the changes a good thing.
Yes... It is December already! And that means we are in the middle of the Holiday Season.
If you are struggling with all the emotions that come with the Holidays I am doing this for you.
Don't harden your heart, let it be what it is... it is a temporary situation and it is change.
We can adapt! We can make changes that uplift and support each other.
Shed your tears but wipe them away and then do something new.
Call an old friend you haven't talked to in a while or go for a walk in the neighborhood (if you can) and say hello to someone. Feel the air, breathe in and out.
It will get better. I promise!
I know.
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