Happy Yumeimas everyone!

The majority of my family celebrates Christmas, but the few who do not have taught me to be hyperaware that to many people, this is just another day on the calendar. So I wish everyone a happy Yumeimas instead, and hope everyone gets to hug a cute puppy <3.

This has been a weird Christmas for me, but the last 24 hours have been the very definition of what this holiday means to me. Because in my family, we have unconsciously removed the religious significance, and turned it into a day of gratitude and love (and the presents). And with all the health problems and other things going on, it hasn't felt like Christmas at all this year. Being isolated from family is good and bad; I have less stress, but it is super lonely for Christmas.

Judging from the amount of times I've cried (happy tears, mind you!) in the last 24 hours, I think the spirit of the holiday has found me.

A friend online simply IMed me Thank You. I love all of you guys, and nothing could ever show the gratitude I hold for all of you. Each of you has given me so much joy, taught me so much, increased my world view so much, that nothing I can ever do would reciprocate. I LOVE YOU ALL SO FRICKEN MUCH. KOL/FLIST = OTP

And then housemates surprised me with LAMB DINNER last night. LAMB. WHICH IS SOFT ENOUGH I CAN EAT IT. Only the potato wedges gave me a problem, but I cried so hard, because food is such a big tradition in my family, so that small plate was probably my favorite present of the year BY FAR. DELICIOUSNESS AND LOVE.

But the cap in the whole joyfest came this morning, when housemates woke me up at 7 to open presents, and not only did they get me a nifty scarf/hoodie/glove set that is absolutely fetching, but they also made chocolate chip pancakes! And then, what really made me cry, was when we had a massive group hug and everyone was crying because we were just so happy, and that's really what this holiday means to me: friends and family coming together to celebrate LIFE and JOY, and being overwhelmed by how much we all mean to one another.

... And now I'm crying again XD