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The holidays are a time full of activity, from gifts, to cooking and decoration. Even the simple task of bringing in a tree can be full of accidents and pitfalls, so it shouldn’t be surprising that some folks just end up getting pretty unlucky just in time for Christmas.
We’ve gathered some of the funniest Christmas fails from around the internet to, perhaps, bring you some joy this holiday season. So get comfortable as you scroll through, count your blessings that this isn’t you, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I Got Fired So This Is My Christmas Alone
I live in Atlanta, Georgia and I got fired on December 20th. My only chance to pay rent this month was to drive 700 miles and start a new contracting job the week of Christmas.
I don’t have any family or many friends anyways but I was looking forward to spending time with the few souls I do have in my life. I miss them but I am stuck eating ravioli on a concrete floor, in a warehouse, for Christmas.
RELATED:
#2
Got My Nieces (3) This Tent For Christmas. One Ran Away And One Started To Cry. My SIL Was Like “We Have One Of Those, It’s The Time Out Tent”
#3
How I Received My Xmas Gift From Amazon
The cover was bent and the record was chipped.
At least Amazon replaced it the next day, in the proper record mailer, inside an another box with packing bubbles. It’s like there’s no middle ground with them.
CF 1 day ago
Always ALWAYS check the box that says "No, do not ship in manufacturer's packaging" or choose the option that says it is a gift. That is by far no guarantee, as you are still relying on the common sense of the average young person at the fulfillment center being paid peanuts to use packing paper appropriately.. This advice from a person that deals with/repacks all the damaged items, many of which are in manufacturer's minimal packaging, that are identified just before they go on the truck to get to your home.
American actor, comedian, and filmmaker Mel Brooks once said that “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die,” in reference to the very real fact that, ultimately, it’s all about perspective. After all, the fails here range from mild annoyances to holiday ruining.
However, it can be a good lesson on perspective, after all, you can thank your own lucky stars that these things didn’t happen to you. It’s easy to forget that everything going “right” isn’t the default, so it can be nice to take a moment and appreciate what you have. Christmas is, in many ways, a great time of year for that.
#4
Someone No Longer Fits Into Their Christmas Sweater And Can’t Get It Off
Warren Peece 2 days ago
It can be safely removed with bandage scissors AKA nurse scissors. Scissors-6...bcc1a8.jpg 
#5
Just Noticed I Have Been Given The Wrong Tablets By The Pharmacist And Taking Them For A Month. Was Prescribed Blood Pressure Tablets (Enalapril). Received Anti Depressants (Escitalopram). Explains Weird Side Effects From Before Xmas
Forrest Hobbs 2 days ago (edited)
Woo. That needs reporting to whatever body regulates pharmacists, or something. Mistakes like that are in the "must never happen" category.
Tim Douglass 2 days ago
Check your prescriptions, people! Mistakes happen. If you are starting a new prescription read the information that comes with it, note what the d**g is for and pay special attention to possible side effects. If you have questions call the pharmacist and ask. Mistakes can kill you! If you are getting a refill look at the bottle and make sure it is the same thing you have been taking. If the pills are different call the pharmacy and confirm the change (most actually put a label on that says they've been changed) as pill sizes, colors, and shapes are regulated and a change is a big red flag. If you can't do all this yourself make sure you have someone you trust who will help you manage your medications because if you can't do this you are not able to live without assistance. Mistakes can kill you and no one has as much reason to prevent that as you do. Check before you take!!
Angela C 1 day ago
A family friend lost his wife like this. She was given the wrong prescription and she ended up in a vegetative state for years because of it. He obviously sued the pharmacy (and got a huge settlement) but unfortunately that wasn't going to bring her back
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Huddo's sister 2 days ago (edited)
Whenever I get my antidepressants, the pharmacist always ask if I've used them before. I'm surprised it didn't get picked up straight away.
Zoe Vokes 1 day ago
I’ve never been asked that before. I guess it depends on where you live and what the pharmacist’s legal policy is.
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Dusty's mom 1 day ago
Report them. You must. Your safety and the safety of others depends upon reporting things like this.
AK 15 hours ago
The question is where to report them. When a mistake happened with CVS, I reported to Medwatch (FDA), my insurance company and CVS. No one cared.
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Toothless Feline 1 day ago
The pharmacist who checked that was clearly not paying any attention. The only thing those drüg names have in common is starting with E. That’s a level of negligence that calls for a license suspension.
Noelle1984 1 day ago
That is soooooo dangerous!!! Escitalopram nearly killed me! I really hope your side effects weren't too severe!
k00k4_burr4 1 day ago
SSRI& SNRI poisons are dangerous! Highly addictive and withdrawal can last years.
Nicola Thrope 2 hours ago
Chemist suggests this was in the UK... that is honestly considerably more frightening than the mistake itself.
Liz Butt 9 hours ago
My chemist put the wrong dosage on my blood pressure tablets. Instead of one a day as usual, he put two a day. I didn't even notice because I know the dosage as I've been taking these for years. My husband asked if it would have been bad and they said it could have killed me. They did apologise afterwards but that doesn't negate that they made a huge mistake that could have cost me my life.
Nosirrow 13 hours ago
My doctor prescribed me an antibiotic. Just said twice a day. I didn't read the leaflet. Swallowed them. This year again but I read the leaflet. It said to dissolve tablets in water, drink and stay upright for half an hour so the medication doesn't irritate the throat. I felt like such an idiot. But how can a doctor not tell sth so important?
Melinda Flick 18 hours ago
Please report that, OP! Somebody needs retraining. YOU also need to LOOK at your meds before you walk away from the counter.
Isa Car 1 day ago
Judging by my experience, Escitalopram isn't a "be artificially happy"-d**g but something that flattens the downwards swings. So OP probably either had just the side effects or off-kilter emotions.
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Steven Meyer 16 hours ago
Whenever you're given a prescription by a pharmacist, you must always check to make sure that number one, the name of the medication is the same as the name you're supposed to be taking. The second thing you check is open the bottle in the presence of the pharmacist And make sure the pills look like the pills you're supposed to be taking. And three, if it's a narcotic, you're getting, have them recount the pills in front of you. It's not uncommon for pharmacy. Text to pocket a few painkillers or narcotics from your prescription when they fill it in the back since no one is looking.
JessieJ&LilyLovebug 1 day ago
And it took them a month to figure out?! I work inca pharmacy...this is very, very bad.
Jenny 23 hours ago
Date format is not the same worldwide. The person who posted this to Reddit is from the UK.
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Winnie the Moo 1 day ago
I’m sorry but 5mg citalopram a day is nothing… I’m surprised OP even noticed symptoms. I started at 20mg a day, then went to 30mg a day. Currently at 40mg a day; and feel SO much better on the higher doses!
Forrest Hobbs 1 day ago (edited)
The d**g is escitalopram, which is the active enantiomer of citalopram - the dose is therefore smaller. The standard dose for escitalopram is 10mg up to 20mg daily, or 5mg up to 10mg daily for the elderly. Citalopram molecules are left and right handed; the right handed molecule has no clinical effect. Escitalopram is the left-handed version only. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/d***s/escitalopram/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enantiomer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racemic_mixture. Oh dear. BP has censored the BNF url. 🙄 Replace the asterisks in d***s with rug.
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Forrest Hobbs 2 days ago (edited)
Not if you need glasses to see properly and also don't bother looking carefully at the packet. I speak as someone whose eyes are no longer as good as they used to be - my eyes are okay for a lot of things, but not for fine print. Do I bother with my specs most of the time? No, I do not. This definitely /could/ have happened.
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#6
Over The Holidays My Sister Tried To Make A Peppermint Candy Platter On A Perforated Pizza Pan
Hopefully, any particularly major fail ends up feeling like funny memories in the future, a great moment to go “do you remember when…” next Christmas. Who doesn’t like a sympathetic story for the holidays? It can be terrible at the moment, but ultimately cherished memories are often born of bad luck.
#7
Helped Clean A Camp Site For Christmas. Dropped A Rock Slab On My Toe
#8
It’s Christmas Eve And I Caught Scarlet Fever
#9
Well, This Isn't A Good Thing To Come Home To After Christmas Holiday
Luckily, our Dad came home earlier than us and this happened when he was at the house so he went and cut the power, unplugged stuff, etc.
#10
My 16 Year Old Sister Spent Two Hours Cooking Christmas Dinner And My Mom Won't Eat Because Shes Mad That She Didn't Like Her Present
#11
Got Fired Right Before Christmas, Got This Monster Immediately After And Will Probably Have It For New Years
Someone pray for me or send me good wishes, when it rains it pours.
Edda Kamphues 2 days ago
It's a stye. Apply a towel soaked in warm water. If it's not gone in a couple of days see a doctor.
#12
Got Norovirus On Christmas Eve. This Is How I'm Spending The Night
#13
Christmas Is Starting Off With A Bang
#14
Christmas Just Got Cancelled
WindySwede 2 days ago
Missed the Cov, thought it was perg-test and lived is some red state in US..
#15
BF Stood Me Up
Ended up at a holiday themed pop up bar, alone. Ended up paying $8 for a $2 beer. Stared at my feet the floor and the walls for what felt like an eternity watching other couples and families interact and engage in the festivities. I want to crawl into a deep hole and disappear. I’m so embarrassed.
#16
An Attempt At A Christmas Cake
Thomas Grant 2 days ago
That honestly looks like something cannibals would eat at Christmas...
#17
Toddler Threw His Christmas Present At My Christmas Present
#18
There Was An Attempt To Buy A Christmas Blanket From Temu
#19
Had Such Bad Diarrhea The Past Few Days That My Christmas Plans Got Canceled And I Ended Up Needing An IV Drip
#20
My Dad Bought A Set Of AI Generated Christmas Mats
#21
Boss Canceled Our Christmas Party Cause This Broke The Bank
I found out we had canceled the yearly Christmas party / bonus. A multi store owner within a large corporate chain food company allowed our management to instead do this for the staff of say 60 employees per store. Upon completing this project along with a few other miscellaneous gifts (donuts, Doritos, and [get this] oranges,) he told us this gesture was “breaking the bank.” Love it here.
#22
Brand New $300 Microwave From Amazon Came Full Of Crusty Old Food
Christmas gift from my parents got delivered today. Wasn’t supposed to be used or refurbished. Smells AWFUL. They’re letting us return it but I have to take it to UPS.
#23
Some Person Cut My Christmas Lights The Day After Getting Them Out
#24
Had My Own Nightmare Before Christmas Last Night
Shelli Aderman 2 days ago (edited)
How?! Never mind, I thought it was in the cement, not split in two…
#25
I Got Tipped A Chocolate Coin At A High Scale Insurance Company Xmas Party
I work as a bartender at a high scale banquete hall and we have a 700 person event for a rather large insurence company. Not only did someone think it was funny to tip me a chocolate coin, but ive only made $60 in tips ontop of that tonight :/. I only make min wage.
#26
I Was Working In The ICU During Christmas Dinner. My Family Sent Me Pictures Of The Feast And Were Saving Me Leftovers. Today I Received Those Leftovers
Not even a bun or a measly potato. I’ve missed a lot of family dinners in the past and usually they send me ham, turkey and plenty of sides. So it seems I was an afterthought this year. I know I should be grateful I got something but it still feels pretty bad.
#27
There Goes Dessert For Christmas
#28
First Major Injury Ever And It’s Right Before Christmas. Ruptured Achilles
#29
Someone Gifted My Cousin A Charcoal Bathbomb
#30
Surprised A Mobile Home Park With A 10ft Christmas Tree And It Was Stolen The Next Day
I spent a few years of my childhood at this mobile home park and it was pretty rough. Now that I’m older and am more connected to the community I was able to get a bunch of stuff donated and held a little giveback event this weekend. One of the things I was most stoked about was this giant 10ft Christmas tree someone chopped down for us. I got it cleared with the park manager and I put a bunch of cinder blocks on the stand thinking that’d prevent it from being messed with. Came back the next morning to add a few more ornaments and it was gone :(
I’m pretty sad but trying to prove to this community that we can’t be knocked down! Trying to brainstorm something else to bring back like some cinder blocks and shape them into a small igloo like tree and paint some rocks to look like ornaments but I’m worried that might not be as cute as I’m imaging.. The other idea is another tree and something else extremely heavy..? we can’t really install anything permanent and working with a limited budget/not really wanting to ask people to donate after all they’ve done already. Let me know your ideas!
Earthquake903 2 days ago
I had a landlord in Tucson that managed a hovel apartment complex that was predominantly refugees. He took great pride in telling everyone how he was helping these people. He "helped" run a Toys For Tots drive each Christmas. I witnessed this man and his large, well-to-do family go thru alllll the boxes, take what they liked and then distribute the dregs to the kids they were meant for. Some people won't let others have nice things. And be careful where you donate.
#31
I Called My Mother After She Sent Me This Text. She Said She Was “Just Being Funny.”
Thinking of giving her coal now as a Xmas present for this “joke”.
#32
Christmas Dinner After Testing Positive For Covid Yesterday
#33
Got A New Phone For Christmas. Was A Bit Too Excited, It Fell Off My Pocket And The Screen Broke (It Lasted Less Than 2 Hours)
#34
"8th Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party" I Said. "You Need Me To Write It Down?" I Said. "No, I Got This" She Said
#35
Winco! Ruining Christmas Suppers Everywhere!!
Went to Winco 3 days before Christmas to get all the supper fixings. I hosted Xmas Eve supper for about 15 people. I pull the rolls out to brown them in the oven before serving and just look!!! The date even says Dec 29!!!
My sister who is hosting Xmas supper today grabbed the bread she got from Winco to make the stuffing and guess what?! It was also moldy and and not past the sell by date!! A different type of Winco bread at a differnt Winco store even!
Guess what I will never be buying at Winco again?!
Brian Droste 2 days ago
If you still have the receipts, taken them back and they should refund you the money.
#36
Xmas Present From My Kids - Multifocal Pneumonia
Drove a third of the way across US and ended up in the hospital the next day.
#37
Update: We Bought A Quest 3 From Walmart And Opened It On Christmas. There Was A Broken Quest 2 Inside
We dug through the trash and found our receipt. We brought the quest to Walmart and the store manager came out and said there was nothing he could do. He would not even replace it with another unit. We told him we don't want money we just want what we paid for but he just kept telling us to call corporate.
We called corporate and they said they can't override a manager's decision. I posted on X(FKAT) and meta support reached out and urged us to open a support ticket. So we're waiting on their response now
Earthquake903 2 days ago
Lol! Corporate can't override a manager's decision? Again, it's like big corporations and their management don't care about people. Keep escalating this, don't let them get away with it.
#38
I Got My Mom A TV For Christmas
I don’t think that huge black blob on the right is supposed to be there.
#39
Went To Exchange Christmas Eve Gifts And Realized The Present Was Damp... Turns Out The Tree Stand Has Been Leaking For Weeks On The Recently Refinished Parquet Floor
#40
City Water Line Backed Up Into My Apartment Building On Christmas
#41
Dad Forgot To Have Walmart Remove The Security Cases On The Christmas Presents
#42
Merry Christmas To Me
My car is 20 yrs old. I cant afford to buy a new one, and I cant afford to fix it. I let it sit bc it had a (minor but smoky) oil leak and a headlight out. This doesnt include the cost to fix the A/C, the headlight (have to buy a complete new headlight, not just the bulb) and new tires. Pretty sure the only option to sell it is to a junk car buyer and then I would just be out of a car at this point. I can only "afford" to fix part of it as i will max out both of my CCs. Honestly not even sure what choice is best at this point. The car only has 133k miles and runs great when operational. They are quoting me 3,600$ to fix it and thej i will have to pay another few hundred for tires/headlight just to get it operational.
Libstak 2 days ago (edited)
This is utter rubbish, go elsewhere. I had a service centre try this suit on me. I went to a private mechanic, he laughed at their audacity, that was 4 years ago, I'm still driving the same car, he broke down the necessities over a year and it cost me around $980 spread across 4 appointments.
#43
I Accidentally Bought Christmas Ornaments Without Strings.. Glad Tigercake Is Willing To Help
#44
Finally Ate This Piece Of Holiday Candy My Partner Brought Home. Turned Out To Be A Hot Cocoa Bomb
WindySwede 2 days ago
Almost looks like the angry killer-bunny, from The Holy Gral, inside of the sphere. With the red blood in its mouth, and green glowing eye...
#45
Waited 2 Weeks For An Order Of 5 Things From Joanns Including A 3piece Metal Cristmas Tree Skirt. This Is What I Received, A Tree Sk
#46
Just Opened My Xmas Filets To Cook Dinner. Completely Gray And Rancid. Now Xmas Eve Dinner For 6 Is Frozen Stuffed Shells. $190 In Filets Are In The Trash
Completely gray and rancid. Now Xmas Eve dinner for 6 is frozen stuffed shells. $190 in filets are in the trash.
#47
Ordered My Partner's Christmas Present Three Weeks Ago, After Three Delays, Now It's Arriving After Christmas
#48
Opened My Puzzle Advent Calendar Only To Find It Was Missing The First 12 Days
#49
My Christmas Calendar On Day 1 Was Empty
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What do you think ?
Lord of the laserprinter. 2 days ago
It’s official, BP is becoming unreadable. Jumpy and laggy filled with wretched adverts that are of no interest to anybody and crash happy. And there is no way on earth that I will pay for premium.
Pencil 1 day ago
I posted a comment when this list was first post. Now someone's replied and I can't see it because it went behind the paywall. I don't see how cutting users off from their own content is going to help their site.
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chamomile tea 1 day ago
Getting really tired of reddit vomit and celeb gossip as the only “content” on BP. Sad, this used to be one of my favs.
ENSJ 2 days ago
I spent my chrismas eve in bed, cheaper to doze than to eat. Had to work in the morning and I live too far away from family to get there in time for dinner. Likewise, I have a morning shift tomorrow, so no visiting family today either. Not that that'd be fun to do, with my mothr criticizing every decision I make, but I do miss my grandparents.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 day ago
Hugs and love from your fellow Panda(wolf.) I am sorry you don't get to be with your grandparents this holiday and have to work on Christmas Day as well :( I'm spending the holiday alone myself (my mom decided going to her precious casino was more important, and my sister has spent the last 15 Christmases with her abusive friend's family instead of with us.) We've both got our Bored Panda family, though! <3
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Ashlie Benson 1 day ago
"New Pics" must mean that only the pictures are new, because I've read most of the stories on old posts.
Libstak 2 days ago
Memories are made of moments like these, the good and bad. If it doesn't involve losing all your worldly goods thru house fire or natural disaster or a mortality or mortal disease then chin up, you got this and you will laugh about it one day. If it's the 3 I mentioned or any non recoverable total disaster, please try to get support and help, the holidays do suck for those who have lost loves or too much of themselves and there are many good people dedicated to getting you through that, reach out.
Kathy Brown 12 hours ago
I am blessed to be better off than these who posted their Christmas fails. Though we couldn't celebrate on Christmas day as a family, It was rescheduled in a few days. I am blessed.
Petra Schaap 1 day ago
yesterday, Xmas eve, exactly 6pm all the power went out in our street.... (in a very scary way, we first thought it was a major short circuit) all the neighbours on the street in their fancy party clothes asking whats going on... everyone was in the middle of a fancy dinner...(except for us as we dont do xmas, we had leftovers, but we couldnt heat them) After an hour, when we were getting ready to go look for a restaurant somewhere (we live in the city center) the lights went back on. For us not a super big deal but i felt bad for everyone with guests etc.
Littlemiss 2 days ago
I was making chocolate mousse, the bowl slipped, I couldn't catch it in time and the whole lot went splat all over the the kitchen floor. We have garage carpet in our kitchen (we rent). Couldn't save any of it.
OneHappyPuppy 1 day ago
I win this round guys... See the little puppy on my pic? My happy puppy? Well after having him for 3.5 lovely years some prick decided to poison him. Right in our own back yard. Days before Christmas. It's not just that my family is not doing OK at all health-wise that ruined this holiday, this was the straw that broke the camel's back
Auntriarch 1 day ago (edited)
I am so sorry to hear about your puppy, my heart goes out to you. Edit: And to whoever downvoted OneHappyPuppy, will you just fück the fück off.
Load More Replies... The Other Guest 2 days ago
Why are you so bitter? People are allowed to be disappointed; perhaps that "single thing that went wrong" was, in fact, the straw that broke the camel's back.
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Lord of the laserprinter. 2 days ago
It’s official, BP is becoming unreadable. Jumpy and laggy filled with wretched adverts that are of no interest to anybody and crash happy. And there is no way on earth that I will pay for premium.
Pencil 1 day ago
I posted a comment when this list was first post. Now someone's replied and I can't see it because it went behind the paywall. I don't see how cutting users off from their own content is going to help their site.
Load More Replies... chamomile tea 1 day ago
Getting really tired of reddit vomit and celeb gossip as the only “content” on BP. Sad, this used to be one of my favs.
ENSJ 2 days ago
I spent my chrismas eve in bed, cheaper to doze than to eat. Had to work in the morning and I live too far away from family to get there in time for dinner. Likewise, I have a morning shift tomorrow, so no visiting family today either. Not that that'd be fun to do, with my mothr criticizing every decision I make, but I do miss my grandparents.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 day ago
Hugs and love from your fellow Panda(wolf.) I am sorry you don't get to be with your grandparents this holiday and have to work on Christmas Day as well :( I'm spending the holiday alone myself (my mom decided going to her precious casino was more important, and my sister has spent the last 15 Christmases with her abusive friend's family instead of with us.) We've both got our Bored Panda family, though! <3
Load More Replies... Ashlie Benson 1 day ago
"New Pics" must mean that only the pictures are new, because I've read most of the stories on old posts.
Libstak 2 days ago
Memories are made of moments like these, the good and bad. If it doesn't involve losing all your worldly goods thru house fire or natural disaster or a mortality or mortal disease then chin up, you got this and you will laugh about it one day. If it's the 3 I mentioned or any non recoverable total disaster, please try to get support and help, the holidays do suck for those who have lost loves or too much of themselves and there are many good people dedicated to getting you through that, reach out.
Kathy Brown 12 hours ago
I am blessed to be better off than these who posted their Christmas fails. Though we couldn't celebrate on Christmas day as a family, It was rescheduled in a few days. I am blessed.
Petra Schaap 1 day ago
yesterday, Xmas eve, exactly 6pm all the power went out in our street.... (in a very scary way, we first thought it was a major short circuit) all the neighbours on the street in their fancy party clothes asking whats going on... everyone was in the middle of a fancy dinner...(except for us as we dont do xmas, we had leftovers, but we couldnt heat them) After an hour, when we were getting ready to go look for a restaurant somewhere (we live in the city center) the lights went back on. For us not a super big deal but i felt bad for everyone with guests etc.
Littlemiss 2 days ago
I was making chocolate mousse, the bowl slipped, I couldn't catch it in time and the whole lot went splat all over the the kitchen floor. We have garage carpet in our kitchen (we rent). Couldn't save any of it.
OneHappyPuppy 1 day ago
I win this round guys... See the little puppy on my pic? My happy puppy? Well after having him for 3.5 lovely years some prick decided to poison him. Right in our own back yard. Days before Christmas. It's not just that my family is not doing OK at all health-wise that ruined this holiday, this was the straw that broke the camel's back
Auntriarch 1 day ago (edited)
I am so sorry to hear about your puppy, my heart goes out to you. Edit: And to whoever downvoted OneHappyPuppy, will you just fück the fück off.
Load More Replies... The Other Guest 2 days ago
Why are you so bitter? People are allowed to be disappointed; perhaps that "single thing that went wrong" was, in fact, the straw that broke the camel's back.
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