Thanksgiving Thoughts

 It has been a strange Thanksgiving.  Just when we thought we had this COVID thing under control, the seasons changed, bringing new cases and alarmingly rapid increases of hospitalizations along with the cooler weather.  New words have entered our vocabularies, such as "Zoomsgiving."  People who would normally gather with groups of family members made the difficult decision to stay home this year, cooking Thanksgiving feasts for themselves alone.

We have to be careful, and to care about others beyond our own families.  Too many families have lost family members to this Pandemic.  Too many nurses, doctors, and support staff members of COVID units have succumbed to this disease.  Today, Black Friday, many folks are doing their holiday shopping online as opposed to out in the stores.  And even the stores are limiting how many shoppers may enter at one time.  One thing hasn't changed since the summer:  masks here in New York are mandatory for going out in public.  You can't even enter a store without wearing one.

What do we have to be thankful for this holiday season?  Zoom, for one thing.  Back in the 1960s when two of my brothers were at war, our family would place a cassette tape machine (remember those?) in the middle of the table during holiday meals, and talk to our missing family members as though they were sitting in their places at the table.  We would then mail the tapes to them, and they would receive them (maybe) days or even weeks later.  How lucky we are to have such immediate communication these days!

We are resilient people.  We are innovative.  Yesterday my husband and I watched the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, appreciating how the producers put together a "parade" that looked like a scaled-down version of the real thing.  In reality, the parade was one block long, lacked student marching bands, had fewer floating balloons, and all of the musical performances were pre-recorded.  Even the Rockettes wore face masks, and didn't do their signature high kicks.  That would mean too much aerosol from heavy breathing hanging in the air during their strenuous choreography.  Yes, many things have changed, and yet we carry on.

Now we are officially in the holiday season.  What is the greatest gift we can give to our loved ones?  Could we adjust our usual habits and keep a distance, while still sharing the love?  Can we take one for the team?  I think we can...Be caring.  Be thoughtful.  Be creative, and above all, be safe.

Have a wonderful holiday season.  And do what you can to make sure others do, too...