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Even Santa can’t stop a PCS.
Holidays on the Road
Denise Sloan
If you’ve ever been on the winter PCS rotation, chances are you’ve spent at least one holiday on the road. During my husband’s 26 years in service, we experienced this many times. It doesn’t have to be a sad affair. Like many things in the military, it is what you make of it and thinking outside the box helps.
Start a Conversation
We always start by talking to everyone in the family. I explain that this holiday is going to be different and why. I let them know their answers will help me plan not only the PCS but also Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Then I ask, “What makes Thanksgiving/Christmas special to you?”
You might be surprised by their answers. Maybe you’ve been doing a bunch of things because you think that’s what people want. You may be able to eliminate one thing and that enables you to focus on what really means something to that person. By asking them directly, it narrows down the next part of planning.
Once you’ve written down what’s important to who, think about how you can take a couple of their favorites on the road without stressing everyone out.
Proxy Christmas and Other Delights
When I was growing up my Mom spent many holidays working at the hospital as a nurse. As a result, I was well acquainted with celebrating Thanksgiving or Christmas just a bit early or later than the actual day.
I was well prepared for Army life in this aspect because the military doesn’t care what your holiday plans are. During my husband’s first deployment, we celebrated “proxy” Christmas, a term my husband attached to any holiday celebrated early or late. We made all of the food, decorated a tree and wrapped presents. And then he was off to Iraq.
A couple weeks later my parents flew out to Hawaii to celebrate the actual Christmas day with me. While I obviously would have preferred having my husband home and deployments were hard, I chose to look at that year as the one with a double dose of Christmas.
In later years, we’d find ourselves in the middle of PCSing from one stateside location to another. We’d plan our travel so we could stop at our family’s homes for the holidays. Sometimes that fell on the actual day and others it was a proxy Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures
My husband eats his Thanksgiving meal with the family while in the Congo.
More recently, my husband was deployed to the Congo. We were able to use FaceTime to eat Thanksgiving dinner together and later at Christmas open presents together. Technology enables you to do so many things with loved ones that just weren’t possible earlier in my husband’s career. So take advantage of virtual celebrations as often as you can.
Other ideas include joining fellow military families at their homes or organizing a potluck with families in the same lodging with you.
A Little Old and a Little New
If you’re PCSing during Thanksgiving or Christmas, the event won’t look like normal (most likely). Let go of your expectations and be open to new experiences.
Christmas trees are a great example. Living in Hawaii means most real Christmas trees at the lots are toast by the time they reach the Islands. So we began a new tradition of going to Helemano Farms in Wahiawa. They grow Norfolk pines, leyland cypress and Carolina Sapphires. Wandering among neat rows of trees looking for the perfect one and watching them cut it down for you makes a trip well worth your time. Plus the tree stays green for about a month!
We enjoyed this so much, that we now visit a tree farm each Christmas. We’ve found great farms in many states as we’ve moved.
Jonathan Sloan/PCS Adventures
I found the perfect Norfolk Island pine for our Christmas tree.
Of course, you’ll be able to bring portable traditions with you. Each Christmas we make sure to a catch all the movies like “A Christmas Story”, “Elf” and “White Christmas”. It’s easy to load movies and music digitally to take with you.
I also do a little research before leaving our old duty station to find holiday related events or activities we can do upon arrival. This gives us something to look forward to rather than focusing on what’s different.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
If you’re like us, there is absolutely no space left in our vehicles for frivolous things like holiday decorations. Usually, we barely get the door shut on the van. There are some very simple, compact things you can take to spruce up military lodging or an empty house.
Think simple and relatively flat. Amazon sells felt trees that can be hung on the wall with command hooks. Everyone can participate in adding the decorations.
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A felt Christmas tree is easy to pack and can brighten your hotel.
Another option is a sheet of butcher paper hung on the wall. One person draws the tree outline and then everyone participated by drawing and coloring the lights, ornaments, etc.
Keep the kids occupied with a small craft kit. Once completed that can then be added to the decor. Window clings, a flat advent calendar and stockings can add more cheer.
If you’re adventurous there may be local craft classes or events your family can attend. We found a glass studio in Grapevine, Texas that offers visitors a chance to create their own blown glass Christmas ornament (with their help, of course). Not only do you walk out with a gorgeous ornament, you make terrific memories.
Come Bearing Gifts
If you’ve got no room in your car for gifts, I get it. So do what we did. Make gift buying a fun event on the other end of your trip.
We spent our first Christmas together in Hawaii and my husband loves to open gifts on Christmas morning. So we decided to do some “challenge” Christmas shopping in the PX and at Hilo Hattie’s. We set a timer and used our imaginations. My husband ended up with a ukulele we still have in our home.
Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures
This ukulele not only reminds of Hawaii, but also our unusual and fun Christmas.
For an extra level of zaniness that’s easy on your wallet, you could also do the shopping challenge at the installation or local thrift shop.
Finally, consider another option—give the gift of experiences. Maybe you take the whole family to a holiday extravaganza at the local hotel. We did this at ICE! in Grapevine. Not only did we see the amazing ice sculptures, there was also an enormous activity room for kids.
Cookies Always Make Holidays Bright
Nothing beats the smell of gingerbread cookies baking in the oven. If you’re in lodging or on the road, that, unfortunately that won’t be happening. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a staple of every good Christmas celebration, the humble cookie.
Buy pre-baked cookies, tubes of frosting and fun candies for decoration. Then head to lodging and decorate Christmas masterpieces. You also could buy rice crispy bars and a few cookie cutters. Then let the family cut out their favorite shape of rice crispy treats. Pro tip: Before starting put down a large plastic sheet on the table for easy clean up.
Denise Sloan/PCS Adventures
Decorating cookies always puts us in a festive mood.
You can also buy a gingerbread house kits that come with all you’ll need to win a decorating contest.
Naturally you’ll want to stock the hotel with hot chocolate and marshmallows for a festive celebration. Local grocery stores should have disposable coffee cups with lids to keep things tidy.
Finally, many restaurants do serve Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Also see if your unit or the chaplains are doing a special meal during the season. It could be a great opportunity to meet new people.
Happy Holidays!
Thanksgiving and Christmas during a PCS don’t have to be devoid of holiday cheer. Look at it as an opportunity to think outside the box, try new things and expand your world.