This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's not about stuff. It's about friends and family, food, and being grateful. It's meant to take place at a large, crowded table full of once-a-year signature foods and with people you don't see often as well as some you do. It's about telling stories, catching up, reminiscing and lots and lots of eating. 

We are doing a scaled-back Thanksgiving with my parents who we have been quarantining with. If the weather permits, we will do a "from the sidewalk" outside and distanced visit with Josh's parents earlier in the day. But, too many people I love will be in their own homes. My cousin is in Madison, Wisconsin. I see him once a year. I have been thinking of him a lot as Trump throws his "losers weepers" tour. "Losers Weepers" is my 4 year old niece's nickname for Trump. But, we are safer apart this year. I will still have family, I will still have great food, and I will have a long list of things I am grateful for. 

This time of year the word "distance" is almost a joke. Everyone is everywhere. For some reason the population size doesn't actually change yet everywhere you go it seems like double the amount of people then the rest of the year. At least, that's in a normal year. This year is going to be interesting! 

We are still making Christmas cookies with my parents, just a lot less. We are still having Christmas dinner with my parents. But, my mom is skipping her "Meatless Meal". An Italian Christmas Eve tradition of no meat or poultry but seafood is allowed. She does it in the middle of December. A lot of people are elsewhere on actual Christmas Eve. We usually go to a party at Josh's parent's house. That's not happening this year either. Again, weather permitting, we will see them from a distance. 

It's tempting to not want to give up our cherished traditions. We really want to see our loved ones. We really want to celebrate in our own ways. We really want to see them in person and hug them. We want to eat that favorite traditional family dish and hear grandma tell that same story she tells every year. We want to eat the Christmas Cookies that you only get at this time of year and taste like childhood. 

But, it's far from safe. So, this year, make a nice meal, then zoom with those you usually celebrate with. It will be even better if they are alive to see you next year in person. You can do it, you can skip the large gathering this year. You can also find things to be grateful for ................. even this year.