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Alone for the Holidays - Carolyn Devonshire's Blog

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To mark her 100th year, Joyce Johnson's book, Lifetime Memories in Verse, has been released by Publisher Gary Drury and is now available for purchase on Amazon.com.

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Alone for the Holidays

Blog Posted:11/16/2011 1:21:00 PM

Have you ever spent holidays alone? Perhaps there were times when you wish you would have spent them alone.

Alexa Brus and I wrote a collaboration from two perspectives -- one from a person who feels uncomfortable spending holidays with friends' families and one from a person who would rather be alone than be with family. It's called "Celebrating Peace in Solitude."

If you have spent holidays alone, were you sad? Did you miss family? Or were there some occasions when you preferred to be alone?

Not everyone who is alone on holidays is sad. Some of us can still find holiday spirit and celebrate the joy of the occasion. For others the thought of being alone is dreadful.

Please feel free to share your thoughts.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! I'll be spending time with friends in the Florida Panhandle.

Love,
Carolyn

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Vince
Suzadail Jr.

Date: 11/23/2011 7:29:00 AM

1964, my first CHRISTmas away from home. I was in Barcelona. I was that down, i hit my rack and slept through most of the afternoon. I've had other holidays alone after that, but the first is the worst. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Merry CHRISTmas. Vince

Sara
Kendrick

Date: 11/22/2011 3:09:00 PM

Have a safe trip and lots of fun during the Holidays...Some of the loneliest time that I have had at Christmas has been since my children have gotten grown and especially since the grandsons are older..But I have never been alone or wanted to be alone entirely..Thanks for stopping by my blog..Sara

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 11/21/2011 2:56:00 PM

Hi Carolyn, I don't usually spend time on Soup at this time, but girl is having a "poopy" moment.;) Stopped by to say, thank you so much for your ever kind words and your warm presence in the soup. There are days that it feels like the soup needs reheating- you do that! About your blog: My first Christmas without my mom was horrible. She took her own life when I was 19 and that Christmas was spent with a well meaning Aunt. Our families version of Christmas was very relaxed and informal. Her's was (to us) so foreign. Good china and good manners. She is a lovely woman, and she was trying to be kind, but it made me lonelier and sadder than if I had gone to my dad's and stared at an empty chair. I then spent the next Christmas alone. My dad was working, I'd just broken up with a big loser and my sister was with chums. Then the apartment I had flooded, and the gifts I bought (from a tiny salary) were destroyed. I found Christmas on a walk, looking at lights and stars. A Crystal night. HUGS

Dane Ann
Smith-Johnsen

Date: 11/17/2011 5:24:00 PM

Enjoy your holiday in the Pan Handle! Isn't it great to have friends who care. I'll see you on your way there. Love to you.

Phyllis
Babcock

Date: 11/17/2011 8:46:00 AM

I think I would be sad to spend it all alone. Family is important to me and while they are around I want to be around them. I guess it depends on the family you have but life is to short to spend it alone. Glad you are spending time with friends for Thanksgiving Carolyn. love phyl

Kabuteng P.Ink
K.

Date: 11/16/2011 7:33:00 PM

Not really. Over here, the holidays (especially Christmas) are a pretty big family thing, so there's always somebody around... but yup, with all the holiday stress, sometimes it would sure be intriguing to spend it alone... Good for you that you get to spend Thanksgiving with friends :) Thanksgiving hugs your way ;)

Dr.Ram
Mehta

Date: 11/16/2011 6:33:00 PM

When I am in India, my holidays are Holy Days only as my entire family live outside India.Carolyn

Joyce
Johnson

Date: 11/16/2011 6:06:00 PM

I am glad you will be spending the holidays with friends Carolyn. May you have a merry time. I have so many relatives I have never been entirely alone but living alone, I do have some times of being alone and that is okay. There are always the family and friend times to look forward to. Today was a Thanksving luncheon at my church and I took one of my pies for my shared food. It was gobbled up fast. Love, Joyce

John
Freeman

Date: 11/16/2011 5:22:00 PM

A little of both sides of the fence with me Carolyn.i enjoy myself when I'm alone or with somebody. Agape, Moses

Nancy
Jones

Date: 11/16/2011 4:02:00 PM

The most "alone" holiday I ever spent was 3 Thanksgivings ago. I was with about 40 other folks, which hardly seems alone until you consider that Thanksgiving day was the first of our 10 days of silence together. Was a Vipassana retreat, an amazing experience, expect I'll do again some day. On other note, Carolyn, if you're drivin' through G'ville on your way to the panhandle holiday give me a shout if wanna, maybe a possible coffee or whatnot, beauty eve~N

Tracy
Edwards

Date: 11/16/2011 3:59:00 PM

Aww Diane, sending big hugs your way xxxx

Tracy
Edwards

Date: 11/16/2011 3:42:00 PM

Ill soon find out how I cope being alone this Christmas, seeing as my family has fallen apart, it'll just be me and my 2 kids this year...so if anyone fancy's popping over... lol

David
Williams

Date: 11/16/2011 2:44:00 PM

Hi Carolyn we don't have thanksgiving here in UK, but i have spent many holidays on my own and i just love them, catching up on lots of reading and writing, what could be better, although i do love holidays with family and friends, Christmas is the next one for us..enjoy your thanksgiving..Love David

Diane
Locksley

Date: 11/16/2011 2:41:00 PM

I'll check out your collaboration. Since my husband was killed in Iraq I have preferred to be alone on holidays. I understand where you're coming from. Best to you, Diane

Carolyn
Devonshire

Date: 11/16/2011 2:01:00 PM

Andrea, I'll be with friends over Thanksgiving. Not sure about Christmas yet, but I've spent that holiday alone and enjoyed going to midnight mass and watching holiday movies on the Hallmark channel or on LMN. Enjoy your time with the family.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 11/16/2011 1:55:00 PM

hi,Carolyn, I have never had a bad problem with being alone. Sometimes it can be wonderful (depending on who you won't have to worry about seeing!)But of course, holidays are usually nicer with someone or with family. I hope YOU will be with someone special this holiday season. And I will try to read your poem done with Alexa when I have more time here. Luv, andrea

Jack
Horne

Date: 11/16/2011 1:39:00 PM

I've always been a big kid at Xmas-time, but Sue used to dread it with her family. She loves everything about it now : )

My Past Blog Posts


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Easter Pendant Point System/"My Place"Contest Results Date Posted: 2/4/2019 2:22:00 PM
Check spelling and syllables tonight Date Posted: 2/3/2019 3:54:00 PM
Check syllable counts for Rispetto Contest Date Posted: 2/1/2019 9:50:00 AM
Congratulations to two first-place winners Date Posted: 12/12/2018 5:57:00 AM
Happy 100th Birthday, Joyce! Date Posted: 4/13/2018 4:10:00 PM
Soup Member Marks 100 Years with a New Book Date Posted: 2/26/2018 3:15:00 PM
Write a poem and win some jewelry! Date Posted: 1/29/2017 3:11:00 PM
Congratulations to the Gemstone winners Date Posted: 10/26/2016 11:05:00 AM
Congratulations, Jack Horne! Date Posted: 8/26/2014 7:03:00 PM
Vacation Humor Contest Results Date Posted: 7/26/2014 11:23:00 AM
Sky Diving...sort of Date Posted: 7/21/2014 9:38:00 AM
Vacation Humor Contest Date Posted: 7/11/2014 1:47:00 PM
Contest Winners and a Short Farewell Date Posted: 6/29/2014 12:22:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
5/24/2021	Searching For You	Free verse	longing,
5/21/2021	Sunflowers	Acrostic	flower,
5/19/2021	Father of Three	Acrostic	fathers day,
5/13/2021	Choices	Couplet	introspection,
4/8/2021	Prayers Needed	Free verse	brother,sick,
3/31/2021	From Icarus To Goldilocks	Free verse	science,space,
3/28/2021	History Rising From the Sea	Rhyme	history,
3/26/2021	Chicken of the Sea Tableau	Verse	fish,sea,
3/24/2021	A Token Gesture	Rhyme	appreciation,light,
3/22/2021	Missing Chris	Free verse	friendship,loss,
3/19/2021	Dreamscapes	Free verse	anxiety,dream,introspecti
3/12/2021	In the Glory of Morning	Imagism	flower,
3/9/2021	Before the Colors Fade	Free verse	history,poetess,
3/4/2021	Rachel's Special Challenges	Free verse	child,education,
3/2/2021	A Taste of Spring	Sonnet	spring,
2/26/2021	Erin's Show	Limerick	humor,
2/24/2021	Pot Luck	Limerick	holiday,humor,
2/21/2021	Coming Back Home	Acrostic	loneliness,
2/16/2021	Wings of Spring	Sonnet	bird,spring,
2/11/2021	Three Jeans' Sizes	Limerick	clothes,humor,
2/3/2021	New Beginnings	Acrostic	hope,
1/28/2021	Better Days	Sonnet	friendship,loss,recovery
1/16/2021	True Leadership	Free verse	history,leadership,
1/7/2021	It's About Love	Rhyme	love,violence,
12/29/2020	Winter's Wondrous Song	Sonnet	winter,
12/21/2020	Believe	Sonnet	loss,
12/18/2020	Christmas Snow	Chastushka	christmas,humor,
12/9/2020	Shakespeare and More	Free verse	childhood,literature,sist
12/5/2020	A Different Type of Christmas	Limerick	christmas,humor,
12/5/2020	Quacker Factory	Quintain (English)	fashion,humor,
11/16/2020	Influences	Free verse	introspection,
11/9/2020	Kicking the Bucket	Free verse	adventure,
10/29/2020	Silenced	Couplet	perspective,
10/15/2020	Censored	Free verse	introspection,
10/10/2020	Lights Out On Halloween	Limerick	halloween,
9/30/2020	When the Colors Fade	Dodoitsu	autumn,lost love,
9/29/2020	Wink of Tranquility	Tetractys	nature,
9/16/2020	A Better Tomorrow	Sonnet	hope,
9/9/2020	King Richard's Crusade	Sonnet	courage,war,
9/8/2020	A Different Kind of Courage	Rhyme	courage,fear,
9/3/2020	Lessons From Past Lives -- Ct	Sonnet	introspection,
9/1/2020	All In a Day	ABC	nature,
8/31/2020	Gratitude	Light Verse	humor,thanks,
8/30/2020	If I Am a Supergirl	Monoku	magic,
8/29/2020	Mad Hatter	Limerick	humor,
8/26/2020	A Bride's Challenge	Monoku	snow,wedding,
8/16/2020	Companions	Couplet	bird,fishing,nature,
8/15/2020	The Purest Love	Rhyme	cat,pets,
8/15/2020	Powerless	Verse	longing,
8/14/2020	Inheritance Ziket	Free verse	sad,
8/8/2020	The Bride of Frankenstein's Crop	Limerick	humor,
8/7/2020	When Dreams Become Nightmares	Enclosed Rhyme	loss,
8/4/2020	Searing Pain Reemerges	Free verse	father daughter,
8/4/2020	Haiku - Clouds	Haiku	sky,
7/29/2020	Losing It In Isolation	Free verse	fear,
7/26/2020	Chilled	Free verse	flower,mother,
7/18/2020	Seraphim of Selma	Free verse	dedication,tribute,
7/15/2020	Finding Hope	Lyric	hope,
6/23/2020	Daver Austin	Free verse	animal,humor,
6/11/2020	First Love	Sonnet	teen love,
5/8/2020	Her Apple Pies	Free verse	food,mother daughter,
3/21/2020	Illuminations of Wonder and Warmth	Free verse	spiritual,visionary,
2/24/2020	Legend of Ogopogo	Rhyme	mystery,
2/19/2020	Specters of Slaves	Rhyme	history,
2/19/2020	Nevermore Raven	Verse	lost love,
2/5/2020	Comfortable Love	Sonnet	love,marriage,
2/2/2020	Warren's Wisdom	Limerick	humor,political,
1/29/2020	Ode To Abraham Lincoln	Ode	history,patriotic,
1/21/2020	White Whale	Lay	animal,ocean,
1/20/2020	When the Portal Appears	Free verse	faith,
1/19/2020	Following Footprints	Quatern	introspection,
1/15/2020	Regret	Free verse	angst,
1/13/2020	Judgment	Free verse	faith,introspection,
1/9/2020	Sir Studly's Dance Partner	Monorhyme	dance,humor,
1/7/2020	Losing Patience	Senryu	mother,nature,
1/7/2020	His Path	Kyrielle	spiritual,
1/7/2020	Gibraltar Crumbling	Diminished Hexaverse	war,
1/6/2020	Existential Poet	Monorhyme	introspection,
1/3/2020	Gray Mournings	Sonnet	grief,
12/28/2019	Memories of Beauty	Quintain (English)	love,nature,
12/28/2019	Her Last Holiday -- Lei	Lay	loneliness,
11/5/2019	Thoughts From the Battlefield	Nonet	memory,war,
10/31/2019	Fall's Changing Focus	Sonnet	animal,autumn,tree,
10/24/2019	Halloween Law	Limerick	humor,
10/14/2019	The Devil's Nightly Quest Ca	Free verse	loneliness,love,
10/3/2019	Carpe Diem	Free verse	life,loss,
9/28/2019	When Might Does Not Make Right	Rhyme	children,war,
9/27/2019	Our Last Stroll	Sonnet	friendship,loss,
9/13/2019	Prayer For the Bahamas	Rhyme	faith,natural disasters,
9/8/2019	Autumn's Embers	Haiku	autumn,nature,
9/6/2019	Deep Sea Mysteries - Cq	Haiku	fish,nature,ocean,,wester
8/26/2019	He and She	Rhyme	abuse,fear,marriage,
8/21/2019	If Tomorrow Doesn'T Come	Rhyme	faith,introspection,
8/18/2019	Forbidden Love	Rhyme	loneliness,love,
6/21/2019	Raindrops	Diamante	rain,rainbow,
6/20/2019	Wings of Wonder	Haiku	bird,nature,
5/21/2019	Where You Feel Near	Sonnet	memory,nature,
3/16/2019	A Sneeze To Spring	Iambic Pentameter	seasons,spring,
3/15/2019	Ghostly Watcher - Jq	Jueju	history,sea,
3/15/2019	The Atlantis Soup Convention	Couplet	community,friendship,

My Photos

ps_carolyn at beach keith photo1.jpg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
Dreams of a Superwoman	Tanka	fantasy
A Winter In Yosemite	Tanka	nature,places,
'remember To Smile'	Free verse	faith,hopelove,
Tell Me	Lyric	loveme,me,
Living To Serve	Ballade	devotion
Star Gazing	Iambic Pentameter	space
The Poem That Never Was	Free verse	on writing and words
Three Blind Men and a Horse	Quatrain
Learning To Ride..Footle-Mania	Light Verse	funny,life
Myth of Mother Earth	Rhyme	fantasy,life,nature,myth,
Hopeful Trio	Tanka	nature
She Waits.	Free verse	animals,death,friendship,
Cowboys Cry Too	Acrostic	angst,cowboy-western,imag
The Price of Freedom	Free verse	deathwomen,women,
Mine Shadow	Free verse	sea,
The Future Is Now	Monoku	hope,life,nature
Cautious Walker	Free verse	adventure,allegory
Fable of the Fall	Rhyme	adventure,hope,imaginatio
Seeing Things	Light Verse	funnygrandmother,
Save Us, Please	Haiku	nature
Letting Go	Rhyme	lost lovelove,
Captain Breckenridge	Free verse	imagination,
Precipice of a Lost Innocence	Narrative	childhood,mother,
Shapeshifter	Acrostic	introspection
Madness	Monorhyme	angst
My Dog, Benbow	Verse	animalsdog,dog,time,
Adopted	Rhyme	childhoodchildren,heart,c
Petty	Light Verse	funnyme,me,
Crop Circles From the Sky	Rhyme	funnymen,men,planet,
Imagination	I do not know?	adventure,fantasy,friends
'tender Invite - Wilma - Ric	Dodoitsu	love
Epitaph For a Common Man	Epitaph	dedication,life
Words	Light Verse	introspection,on writing
When I Grow Up	Free verse	childhood,
Growing Prose -My Passion-	Free verse	on writing and words,pass
Maiden Voyage	Rhyme	history,life,loss,sea
The Farewell Performance	Free verse	lifefilm,
Maiden Voyage " the Rescue "	Rhyme	history,life,loss,sea
I Had a Little Nut Tree	Light Verse	funny,parody
Stick To His Rules, He Not Human Actually Rules	Free verse	natural disasters
Sos	Senryu	nostalgia,
In Deep Sorrow	Rhyme	sadpain,me,
To Read	I do not know?	lovelove,i love you,
Tanka 13	Tanka	emotions,
No Cancer In Heaven	Sijo	lossfamily,family,
At Gettysburg	Sonnet	america,conflict,memorial
The Worry Dolls	Quatrain	faith,happiness,hope,insp
Fgm	Verse	abuse,sad,violence,
Life's Void	Narrative	imagination,introspection
Lonesomeness	Rhyme	depression,loneliness,pre
My Poems	Free verse	hope,on writing and words
The Peace of Wild Things	Quatrain	peace,
Lithaniel and She	Free verse	lost love,nature,romance,
Nikan	Sonnet	dedication,native america
Future Dreams	Rhyme	imagination,science ficti
The Magician's Hall	Rhyme	allegory,creation,god,nat
When Carolyn Sent Me a Christmas Card	Kyrielle	friendship,
Keepin Up	Rhyme	funnynight,me,night,time,
Battle of the Seasons	Alliteration	seasons
Doing Time In Kimo	Kimo	funny,
Cease Fire	Rhyme	funny
Flint River	Rhyme	places,
The One That Got Away	Narrative	childhood,family,nostalgi
Halloween's Mask of Comfort	Rhyme	desire,halloween,
Autumn's Gown	Rhyme	color,inspiration,
Low Cost Airline	Limerick	fun,
All Man Well Almost	Free verse	body,character,funny,gigg
War Vets Dream	Rhyme	children,warchildren,war,
The Sunrise	Sijo	nature,
Beauty Inside	Quatrain	beauty,
The Loving Time	I do not know?	animals,life,love,motherm
Day the Earth Reversed	Imagism	imagination,
Ironside	Light Verse	adventure,betrayal,for hi
Coming of Age	Narrative	adventure,brother,childho
Gift of the Sea	Rhyme	nature,sea,sportsfishing,
Oh How I Love Halloween - For Ghost Contest	Free verse	halloween,humorous,
Saved By a Wizard	Rhyme	boyfriend,cry,dark,girlfr
The Cake You Showed Me	Ode	introspection
What!!	I do not know?	funnyme,home,home,me,
To Eden Part I	Free verse	beauty,god,metaphor,parad
Living Your Life Full of Love	Rhyme	inspirational,love,
Henry David Thoreau	Clerihew	humorous,
Welcome Carolyn	Couplet	friendship
To Eden Part Ii	Free verse	creation,death,faith,life
Friend Within Hear Me	Rhyme	angst,confusion,friendshi
Rain Drop	Personification	nature,rain,
Halloween Fun	Free verse	halloween,
Star Child	Light Verse	beauty,universe,
Welcome Dear Carolyn	Couplet	friendship
Pluviophile	I do not know?	love,rain,water,
Animal Court	I do not know?	animals,funnytiger,
The Darling Knock	Rhyme	longing,love,romance,
Rain Frogs	Rhyme	humorous,nature,
Come To Me	Rhyme	love,
Cowboy Hoe Down	Rhyme	dance,
O Light	Free verse	angst,inspiration,introsp
::A Psalm To Jehovah::	Free verse	inspirational,thank you,u
Barbed Wire	Rhyme	history
Springtime With Gramps	Quintain (English)	spring,
The Art of Understanding	Free verse	prayer,