Thanksgiving – Cedarcrest Sanctum

Sorry there was no specific Thanksgiving message this year…as usual. A few of you know why — and no, it had nothing to do with becoming a Vampire.

Thanksgiving used to be my favorite holiday, but it’s been a while since then.

I adopted Christmas as my new favorite holiday afterward, basically moving up number two into the empty spot. Being the only child in a loving and well-off family didn’t suck and — as my mom used to say — I made out like a bandit. My dad would come back later and buy anything he’d caught me eyeballing.

FromTheDeskOfJanissSignature My mom was sneakier. Knowing dad would dote on me, she’d buy things for me I could re-gift to Daniel and Eric. Mr. and Mrs. Moore always seemed to be out of money at the start of school and right at Christmas, so up until we moved away, mom always “accidentally” bought things perfect for the boys. Dad must have known but he never said anything.

Seeing Daniel and Eric get something cool for Christmas that they couldn’t get for themselves always made me happy, but I think Mrs. Moore resented us for it. The only charity she wanted was from their oft-missing Uncle “No-Show” Par who she had decided owed her everything. Of course, I found out recently his absence wasn’t strictly due to avoiding Marie.

My point is this: I enjoy seeing others get something for themselves.

So, here we are in December. Colorful lights are going up in and around the small town of Glenville, West Virginia. Plans are being made and the 25th is just a few weeks away. I am blessed that everything I want this year is for someone else.

Sure, I wish I didn’t have to depend on so many others, but I give plenty in return. I wish the daytime didn’t make want to crawl into a dark hole, but there’s no fixing that. It’s not perfect, but we have a good arrangement, Cedarcrest and I, and the nights are wonderfully long this time of year.

Of course, this is usually the part of a Joss Whedon television show when the next Big Bad shows up.

Hopefully he/she/it is having a nice December holiday of their own and won’t come around until after the first of the year. If they want, I’ll even let them help take down the decorations.

If you’re reading this, please leave a few thoughts about your holiday plans. I’d love to read about them.

As always, keep each other safe.

~ Janiss

Email janiss.connelly@cedarcrestsanctum.com
Twitter @JanissConnelly
Instagram @janiss.connelly

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Our executive administrator asked my thoughts on this and to forward it along to all of you; I have nothing more to add. ~ Timothy Harker, OpAdmin

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To all staff and residents:

I sincerely hope that all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving yesterday and are looking forward to the holidays to come. Today, the Friday following, is traditionally known as Black Friday, a day of pre-Christmas sales as stores try to push themselves into “the black” and turn a profit.

I was never one for getting up and fighting off grandmothers at 5am for their relatives’ new video games or televisions, but many of you know that today holds a special significance for me and everyone here at Cedarcrest since it was also the day I assumed responsibility for it and all of you. It has been a rewarding experience even at its most overwhelming.

Family is important – and that’s what we are here. Many of us here only have one another, whether we are the last of our bloodlines or simply unknown to our kin, and we are grateful to have you here with us. Family isn’t just who your parents were or who married your sibling; it’s the people you see and work with every day, the ones you trust with your confidence as much as your wellbeing.

Many of you knew Louisa Newcomb far better than I did or ever will; she’s the reason Cedarcrest exists and the one with the forethought to ensure its continued success beyond today. I wish there had been more time and I think of new questions each day that she can no longer answer, but I ask all of you to keep her in your thoughts – today in particular – and the sacrifices she made to keep all of us safe.

~ Janiss Connelly
Executive Administrator
Cedarcrest Sanctum