> >Puester wrote:
> >> We have eaten in a restaurant exactly once in 38 years on
> >> Christmas Eve and even though the service and food was very
> >> good, it made me feel VERY guilty that all the personnel
> >> involved were working and not able to be home with their
> >> own families at the time. And. no, I don't think it was their
> >> choice to work that day.
> >>
> >> I'll never do it again, even if the alternative is toast
> >> and tea or crackers and cheese for dinner. Holidays are for
> >> family and no one should HAVE to work.
> >>
> >> Anyone else?
>
>We've gone out exactly one Christmas Eve in all my life. My mother-in-law was in the hospital getting a kidney transplant in another state. We went to spend Christmas Eve and Day with her, so after visiting in the hospital we went out to dinner. It's not like we wanted to eat peanuts from the minibar in the hotel for Christmas Eve dinner! So, sometimes your situation dictates a course of action you wouldn't normally follow.

We actually have fond memories of that night because it was the beginning of
Mom's road to recovery!

Tracy