Hanky, how wonderful of you to provide us with a Cranky-about-Easter thread! Me next, please!

I decided I wasn't christian before high school but never told my family. It wouldn't have broken my mother's heart as much as it would have scared her, & I just couldn't see any sense in doing that if she never suspected that I wasn't a believer. She truly was.

But I managed to outlive my entire close family without having to break that news, & now make no pretense to anyone of celebrating any church events with FOO. I do know a 9 yr old young man I'm very fond of, & he'll ask me to attend something for him sometimes--which I do. We discuss belief because it's got him wondering a lot: his mom's a devout Catholic, his dad a "free-thought Buddhist" (don't ask me).

But I've got my own ideas--at last. So guess what? Now my friends, all of whom freak out every holiday because their families drive them nuts, want me to come to their family celebrations! Yeah!

Any suggestions how I can decline without telling them straight-out that--having outlived my own family--I want no part of their own personal cuckoos' nests?

Roadie