Wow, I just ran across this thread today, and I can't tell you all how much it has helped me just reading all of the posts.

I too dread the holidays. I call the time between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day "the dark period." I'm fine any other time, but that period is sometimes a real challenge. For some reason, this year has been particularly difficult.

My folks are both gone, and I am divorced. Losing the connection with all of the in-laws just added to it all. It doesn't help that all the people I work with are all happily married with families, so I hear about all of their "stuff" constantly during the day.

Thanks for listening. And my best wishes and prayers are with you all.

Whirlwind