Dear Sidney,

The holidays are here once again. I spent Thanksgiving driving with my little dog four hours each way to Santa Barbara to spend one overnight with my joy of a grandson. My daughter allowed me to sleep over at her home Thanksgiving night after a dinner celebration at her wealthy in-laws. The entire experience was exhausting.
She has sent me a text message inviting me for Christmas, but I am to stay at a dreadful dog-friendly Motel 6, her gift to me. She and her husband want to share Christmas morning alone with their 3-year-old son; no 75-year-old grandmas allowed! The tradition is to be at the in-laws for Christmas Eve by 6 p.m. and again Christmas morning by 11 a.m., after their family gift opening. I would be staying out of the way at the motel until the designated time of my arrival to each get-together. There would be no time for me to enjoy my grandson one-on-one.
Here on the mountain there are many seasonal activities and I enjoy attending a Christmas Eve church service. I’m quite content.
Am I becoming an old fuddy-duddy in choosing not to accept their invitation?

At Peace in Crestline

Dear Peaceful,

If you were Chinese, you’d already be living with your daughter in the guest room until the Lord called you home. Assuming that you are an American, you’ll have to accept the fact that being a senior citizen puts you on the back burner, way back. I’ll guess that you are single and live in a cozy cabin in the woods with a stone fireplace and a roaring fire.
I’m betting on a White Christmas this year. The roads will be treacherous, icy and miserable for traveling. From November through April, living on the mountain is the greatest excuse to just stay home! It is my experience that it’s best to visit outside of the holidays, when you don’t have to dress to impress or share your grandson with the rich grandparents.
Purchase and send gifts to the darlings from Amazon Smile, where you can donate to your favorite charity, such as the Crest Forest Senior Citizens Club. Hope to see you at the San Moritz senior luncheons on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Why not join the group of seniors at the Rim Bowling Lanes on Thursdays at 2 p.m.? Three strikes in a row and you get to ring the dang bell!

Sidney

Send your questions for Sidney to [email protected] or by snail mail to Dear Sidney, The Alpine Mountaineer, P.O. Box 4572, Crestline, CA 92325.
This advice is intended for entertainment purposes only. No animals were harmed in the writing of this column.