Thanksgiving (Holidays) With the Family. Is It Worth It?
This year is different. Most were not able to be with loved ones. Bummer, or was it? Come on, was it that bad or terrific? I’m sure many of us were disappointed, but some thought, “this Covid thing may have a silver lining.” Is there some good in this awful 2020 pandemic? Not to say that Covid is good because it isn’t. We all must try to pull the good out of the bad as much as we are allowed. The virus has given us death and closed businesses. None of us ever want to go through this again. But there have been some progressions. Working from home for many has taken on a new dynamic and shown companies that it does work. Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Uber Eats, Amazon, Walmart, and on and on have benefited from the Pandemic.
Moderna, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca lead the way to fight the virus through an unbelievable 90% or better efficacy rate. Even the U.S. Government responded quickly with the first stimulus funding, and FDA lessened restrictions for the vaccine. Why not find a silver lining apart from some family members you know you don’t want to see. Okay, virtually maybe, but physically, no way. Stop pretending. We’ve all seen the movies and read the experts’ advice blogs. Depression goes up during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. No, it’s not because you don’t see your relatives. It’s because you DID see them.
Have you ever gathered together with family during the holidays only to talk about them as soon as you were apart? I’m sure that goes both ways. Isn’t family lovely? Are we hypocrites and pretend we’re not? Didn’t you say, “Sally, I love that tight, short skirt you’re wearing around my husband?” Or “Frank, I’m so sorry you haven’t found work in this 3% unemployment rate we’re in.” We think about it but tell others, I can’t wait to see you again next year. Covid helped us deal with the harshest of life. But it has taken away what may be, for some, the worse than death dealings with family over the Giving Holidays.
But wait, there’s more. Once the vaccines are taken, most things will get back to normal. Schools will reopen, and companies will no longer need workers to work from home. Of course, traffic will be as crazy as before. Restaurants will be busy, and we will wait 45 minutes for a table. Airlines will be able to fill as many of us as possible on their narrow planes and delay our flights as long as possible. We won’t have to see our neighbors or know their names. Walking through the neighborhood will become a thing of the past. Again, we will gladly pay $15 for a movie theater ticket rather than $7.99 for Netflix.
I’m no Grinch, and I love holidays. I also love being around family, some more than others.
2021 will soon be here, and with the help of a vaccine, we will be back to normal, complaining and dealing with family over the holidays.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Despite the craziness, the family will always be there no matter what. Dealing with the crap in between is well worth it.
Covid, be gone!!!
