Holiday are just workdays

 Let's be honest. Holidays are still workdays; you just do different work. 

You still got to get up and get dressed and go somewhere. I mean if its 4th of July, somebody is cooking out, if not you, and that still mean work. Meal prep if you are visiting someone's house or if you were stupid enough to invite people to your house, well now, you have the whole gambit to go thru. Cooking and cleaning. Is the toilet clean, extra TP in the bathroom and don't forget the air freshener when the baked beans kick in. Oh, did you clean the grill, have enough ice, are the throw pillows back on the couch so it looks like you never sit there. Is the air on for people who can't sit outside too long. Every bug in the neighborhood will be in your house with as many times as people are coming in and out. Gonna need to WD40 that sliding door. Spills, spills, spills. If its outside ok, but it's never outside, is it. 

We would as a family go to my aunt & Uncle's house, they had a pool, more work, so the kids swam and adults chat, and we grill and eat. Good luck getting kids out of pool to eat. Then they are starving at 11pm cuz they didn't eat all day. Now, this trip meant, not only do I have to bring over the required pitch in dish and my family's meat to grill, now I have to haul chairs, never enough chairs, towels, pool toys, extra bag of shit for the kids clothes to go in when they finally do emerge from the depths, and usually a cooler to supply my ever thirsty children with drinks they can't seem to drink at anyone else's house. and maybe a few drinks for mom, alcoholic and non. 

As an adult now, I do appreciate my aunt & Uncle for putting up with all of us. And I was always respectful in her home. I didn't clog the toilet, or let wet kids sit on furniture. I was brought up with manners and spankings, so I know. 

Thanksgiving, same thing, but no pool and more cooking and you are expected to help do dishes.

Christimas is no better, its worse really, now you have to be indoors the whole time cuz its winter and nice to people! and dress up in your Christmas clothes, so you can't just lounge in shorts and tank tops. 

Joy. isn't it. 

Which is why as an adult now, I don't care for visitors much. I like my home, if i want you to come over i will invite you, but a party like that, gives me anxiety to the max.

So, this full hearted THANK YOU goes out to all the family members out there that open their homes and throw these cookouts, bonfires, Christmas parties, baby showers, birthdays, Easter dinner, Thanksgiving, New Years, whatever celebration! 

Not yours, but truly, 

Dixie