The holidays are typically a rough time of year for most folks. My favorite meetings are the ones that land on holidays. It seems that only the die-hards and those REALLY needing a meeting are there. It's my favorite!
Snow storms are my favorite, too. We only live about 8 blocks from the meeting, so getting there isn't a problem for us. Last year around Thanksgiving, we got a massive snowstorm that left most people house-bound. I got calls from all kinds of addicts who were getting sick of staying at home asking if we were going to have our meeting that night. "Do the bars close, dealers stop dealing, or doctors stop prescribing just because it's snowing?" I asked. We had about a dozen people show up at the meeting, mostly due to a friend of mine with 4-wheel-drive that went and picked everyone up. :) It was one of the best meetings I'd ever been to.
I feel like I'm roped into family stuff this time of year. I feel really awful saying this, but I'd rather spend the holidays with my NA family than with my own blood-family. Thanksgiving won't be too bad as we're just going to my grandma's for the day and have plans to go to a meeting at 7 that night.
Christmas, on the other hand... my mom wants to put all of us up at my brother's house for the weekend. 3 days with 15 people (2 under the age of 4) including: 3 full blown addicts, 2 recovering addicts, and a whole bunch of codependents. My mom just can't understand why my husband and I decided to get a hotel room for the weekend (which is well worth the $200).
I feel so torn. I should be grateful that I still have family... and family that actually cares (in their own sick ways). But in all honesty, I dread the drama, the judgemental sister-in-law, the "so what are you doing now" questions which my responses never live up to their expectations.
I guess I'm not all that abnomral. Lots of people deal with this. But when I see friends in the program have to spend the holidays by themselves, it just makes me cringe. I'm really thankful for one of my friends, though... she owns one of the motels in town where the house is attached to the office. Every year she has a Thanksgiving FEAST for those without families. THAT is what I'm grateful for... THAT is what it's all about! :)
