The more I try to bah humbug, the more I seem to get sucked into the vortex of the Christmas season. I don't know, but maybe it's because I am starting to realize that there aren't a hundred more holidays ahead as my time clock ticks faster and faster or maybe it's because there simply are a whole bunch of wonderful ways to get to see friends and neighbors in record-time. Whatever the cause, I approached these few weeks in a determined manner and part of the determination comes from my need to not have as miserable a Christmas as we have had in the years between the onset of Covid and its soft re-opening.
Last year was memorable. Plans were made. Anticipation grew. Weather was with us. We were so looking forward to seeing our son and daughter-in-law for one of their rare visits. In a festive mood, we attended a community party. I made not one, but two, different appeals to the party planners, members of our condo board, to send a note along to those who committed to attending, asking only one small favor. Please test yourself for Covid prior to crossing the threshold to what turned out to be a beautifully executed holiday celebration. After all, the event was slated for a mere 2 weeks before Christmas and a lot was at stake.
Party approaches. No notes. No emails. Nothing but local news reports about growing numbers of "cases".
We tested. We were negative. We went to the party and had a delightful time. Only one attendee wore a mask. Food was great.
Hmmmm. Within three days following the event, news in our community traveled swiftly. We would soon discover that eight of the party-goers, included the masked person, had contracted Covid. Some for the second time. The timing was a clear indicator that our party was a mini but sure, "super-spreader". Someone came with their own Covid and lent it to those who trusted, who assumed that, without being instructed to do so, would stick the little swab up the nostrils and wait it out for 15 lousy minutes. Too much to ask?
Well, long story a bit shorter, later in that same week, we were invited to a dinner party by one of our lovely neighbors. Doing the absolute correct thing, she asked that guests perform a test before coming. Of course, we were happy to comply, especially since we had attended the party a few days before and did not contract the virus. Same with the hostess and two of the other guests. The third couple had not attended the party so it was assumed (again that word) that they were just fine.
Within two days, a phone call from the hostess confirmed that we had once again been exposed.
We joined the sad and sorry list of neighbors who were in the process of altering their plans for Christmas. The way we figured it, the arrival of our own cases or the ability to spread the virus to our son and wife, was perfectly timed with their anticipated arrival. So, we postponed Christmas. Needlessly. We were totally fine. No Covid. Nothing. But, one very sad and dull Christmas indeed.
Never again.
We've started the month of December off with a bit of a bang. I have a brand new dental bridge in my mouth, Joe has his brand new Cpap machine, and the days of October and November are behind us. Our tickets are purchased for Radio City Music Hall, and reservations are all set for spending Christmas in our favorite city in the world. Manhattan awaits us and we can't wait.
But first.....the past weekend was devoted to the celebration of Christmas on Cape Cod with the annual holiday pops performed by the very beautiful Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra. The next morning, a cookie swap party, complete with brunch, at the two hundred year old home of a friend who does this amazingly executed affair every year for the past eleven. Yesterday, the annual Dennis Village Stroll. A fun day, the Stroll consists or local merchants knocking themselves out cold by opening beautifully decorated shops and providing foods, beverages, and hospitality to all who come.....in the hundreds. The weather was perfect and the Stroll was a complete success. A beautiful way to start the countdown.
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