Christmas has been a major source of stress and major frustration in my house for the last few years. My youngest brother doesn't care either way if we celebrate, the oldest brother moved to Arizona this summer and doesn't have the money to come home for the holidays, and my mum and I just don't want -or have the energy and money for- Christmases that look like they fell off a card anymore. Unfortunately my step-father demands the whole shebang every year. We tried to go tree-less, so to speak, last year and just use our little ceramic and this 55year old man threw an absolute tantrum then went out and spent bill money on a tree.

Luminaire here is a nice stress and expectation free replacement. I'm not expected to give and I don't expect to get. There's no worrying about money. I can decorate as much or as little as I want or choose to ignore the whole thing altogether. There's no family gatherings full of snide comments and side glares over how late we show up because of work. No ridiculous childish grudges over what we could or couldn't do -mentally/emotionally/financially- for the holiday.

I can just float silently through the the background of the site, gifting anonymously should I choose, and enjoy.

I notice everyone gets grouchy around this time of year but me. I try to make this time of year fun even if it's doing small things like making cookies or cakes.