Holiday Blues

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if-so-Grrl

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2010
2,907
1,216
The Last Frontier
I hate the holidays this year. I mean, normally they're kind of a stress-fest, but I've always spent at least part of them in the company of people I love.

Not this year. This year, I'm working, out at sea, thousands of miles from anyone I actually care about, in the company of a crew of virtual strangers. There is nothing on the boat that feels festive; no tree, no lights, no decoration.

Yes, I signed on for this gig, for what seemed like good reasons at the time. Maybe, given my mental state, it was even the right choice. But it doesn't feel that way now.

Now it's just lonely. I haven't had a hug in weeks. I haven't had more than the briefest of conversations with family or friends in as long. And I want my puppy, whom I've not seen in months.

So I've been avoiding, as much as possible, anything to do with the holidays. Mostly this only means skipping over a lot of Facebook posts and not opening threads that are holiday-related, which unfortunately means almost all of them.

As Christmas approaches, this becomes ever more difficult, and my sense of isolation deepens. I didn't think it would be this hard.
 

if-so-Grrl

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2010
2,907
1,216
The Last Frontier
Bless you honey! That would be so hard! I agree with Flake - have Christmas whenever you get back to your loved ones - when will you be off that boat and back?

The nature of my job dictates that I don't know. I HAVE to be back in Dutch Harbor by the 8th of January, and MIGHT get a couple of weeks or so off after that, but no guarantees on the latter. I might get sent out to another boat right away, and I'm not in a position to turn down work. I did tell my boss that it would be best for me if she gave me the time, but my sanity is never her prime concern. Nothing personal, of course...just business.
 

Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
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Just north of Duma Key
bearhug-jpg.20232
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
...honey, you know how I care for you...being away from the Home 20 in such remote areas is no picnic, but I know how passionate you are about your work-and that driving force will also help buoy you up in those agonizing dark moments...you are tremendously strong, but also know we hold your heart right here and that it is safe amongst this community...we are but a mouse-click away when the emotional fog starts rolling in...and when you return to this area, we need to meet up and one of my patented Giant hugs is yours and yours alone Lynn...love you honey-whenever, wherever I'm here...