Christmas for one
Christmas is a difficult time for those living alone but it always helps to have something special to look forward to. Rita’s family are visiting after the holidays and she wants to make it as special for them as possible. Fortunately, getting ready for summer and family visits is easy thanks to Albany Mega Centre.
This is the second Christmas that Rita has been alone since Jon died. They were happily married for 52 years. About 14 years ago, Rita joined Jon in retirement and they moved to Albany. They wanted a smaller house, on the flat and near the shops and nearby parks. Their two kids were now grown up, had moved away and had established their own homes and families. With just the two of them, Jon and Rita didn’t need much space.
For 12 years they kept each other company every day, always finding something to talk about and do together. Jon was Rita’s world and she still misses him terribly and finds the monotony and loneliness difficult. There are plenty of friends nearby but it’s just not the same for Rita as having her own family with her. She often reminisces, thinking about the times when her home was full of the energy and laughter of her husband and her kids.
Rita spent last Christmas with her daughter, Daphne, in Wellington and that made it feel like a warm and happy family occasion, even without Jon. This year the kids are off on overseas holidays and Rita will spend Christmas alone. Of course, she told them that it was fine but deep down she feels a deep sense of loss. She was feeling more and more sad as Christmas got closer.
That was until her son, Luke, rang the other night. Sensing Rita’s sadness, Luke announced that he and the kids will fly up from Christchurch for a visit in the first week of January. That immediately made Rita’s day and suddenly spending Christmas alone seemed more bearable.
With a spring in her step, Rita headed down to Albany Mega Centre to buy what she needed for the visit. She started at Farmers Home, looking for a foldaway couch. Her house has a second bedroom, where Luke will sleep, but she had nowhere for the boys to sleep. The salesperson was very helpful, talking through the options, measurements and how to pull the mattress out. She decided on the couch she wanted and arranged for it to be delivered in the next few days.
The next stop was Briscoes. Along with sheets and a duvet for the new bed, Rita wanted new towels for everyone. Over recent years, she hasn’t bothered with this sort of stuff, surviving on the old worn-out towels that she and Jon bought together many years ago. She felt good having a reason to buy new things again. She also bought a deep lasagne dish as she knows this is Luke’s favourite food.
A stop at Rebel Sport followed. She wouldn’t normally come into a place like this but she enjoyed having a new experience. She wasn’t sure what everything was but knew it wasn’t for her. She found each of the boys a sweatshirt – both big brand names that even she’d heard of.
The final stop was The Warehouse for Christmas crackers. While there, she saw the game Scrabble and felt nostalgic. Jon and Luke used to play it together when he was about the age his kids are now. She buys it, hoping Luke will enjoy playing it with his boys.
Heading home, Rita had a smile on her face, excited by the prospect of playing mum again. She’ll spend the next few weeks with real purpose, getting ready for her boys. Thanks to Albany Mega Centre she can make it extra special.