"Last Christmas!": Joan & Chock's Lives Are So Different This Year (Their First Christmas Might Make Them Long For The Past)

The Golden Bachelorette stars Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple are engaged, and as they enjoy their first Christmas together, they probably get pulled back into the past. At their ages, they've lived a lot of life, and special occasions could trigger them, reminding both of them of all they've lost. While the two seem very compatible, they each had very long-lasting relationships. Sadly, Joan and Chock lost their partners to cancer. During the holidays, the new duo, who are planning to live in three different places, must find it hard to deal with all of their memories.

In particular, Joan may be sensitive. In Wham's hit song, "Last Christmas," George Michael sings,

Last Christmas I gave you my heart/the very next day you gave it away.

However, Joan's late husband, John Vassos, never betrayed her. He passed away four years ago, which broke her heart. At Thanksgiving, she was emotional, thinking about John. The Christmas holidays might be just the same. Chock lost his fiancée of nine years, Kathy Goree. For years, Joan and Chock had Christmases with other partners. Now, they must try again, together, and the winter holiday season is known for putting people under a lot of pressure.

Can Joan & Chock Really Move On?

There Are Already Some Red Flags

At Thanksgiving, Joan felt like her worlds were "colliding," as per Joan's TikTok post. She was with Chock and his kids, and her late husband's birthday falls on Nov. 27. On that day, she took to her car, letting fans know that she needed a little time to herself. She'd visited John's grave - she was sad. While she was grateful that Chock and his children came to her to make Thanksgiving special, she was being pulled in different directions. She appreciated Chock and his kids:

adjusting their normal traditions

to include her, but maybe a part of her missed the Thanksgivings of yesteryear. Grief doesn't just melt away when someone new enters the picture - it's not that simple. It comes and goes, hitting a person in waves. At first, it hurts all the time - then, it hurts sometimes. With a loss this great, it's never going to stop hurting completely. It will get better though, with some bad days and nights in the mix. Since holidays like Christmas are essentially about togetherness, they may trigger intense memories.

Joan & Chock May Be A Forever Match

They Could Beat The Odds

Right now, Joan and Chock are quiet - it's Christmas Eve Day. Hopefully, they're making some amazing memories together, but there's always the chance that they're living with sadness too. Since they're both mature and intelligent people, they should be able to get through this holiday with flying colors. Maybe it'll be a welcome break from the painful grief of the past. That would be a best-case scenario.

Recently, The Golden Bachelorette's Joan Vassos and Chock were cooking together, and she criticized the way he did a kitchen task. He looked a bit irritated but brushed it off. Since the couple are waiting to marry, and Joan has had some emotional moments that she doesn't try to hide, there is always the chance that spending Christmas together will actually be hard for the couple. They are still getting used to being together so much. Both will need to really lean into their "new normal" in order to make things work. However, they are a couple worth rooting for.

The Golden Bachelorette fans can stream the series on AppleTV, Amazon Prime and YouTube.