Remembering The Past, Mourning The Present.

Earlier this year, I made the decision not to travel home to be with family over the holidays due to the coronavirus.

Normally, I schedule the last flight out on the last day of school so I can make it all the way home for Christmas. I usually arrive at the airport bright an early the next morning.

After claiming my luggage, renting a car, and checking in at the same motel, I catch a few hours of sleep before heading off to visit family members who live in assisted living places. The visit includes taking them out shopping for small gifts such as new shoes and eating out at various restaurants, along with a stop for a bottle or two of “libations” to add to their private stash.

In the days leading up to Christmas, I visit siblings at their houses for smaller gatherings, shop for last minute gifts, and figure out what to take for the family gift exchange. Then on Christmas itself, grandparents, parents, and children gather for a huge potluck meal, companionship and of course the family gift exchange.

The gift exchange involves placing all the gifts on the coffee table in the living room near the tree and then passing out numbers to each person involved. The first person gets to select a gift and opens it. The next person may take the first persons gift or choose a new one. The third person may take anyone of the the earlier gifts or choose a new one. If a gift is taken the person may take another gift or get a new one.

This continues until everyone has had a chance to steal a gift or get a new one. Ohhhh and a specific gift may not be “stolen” more than two times before it is declared safe. The most popular gifts are anything alcoholic, including the alcohol flavored chocolates.

Then on the 26th of December, I’m back at the airport to head off somewhere for the second week of holidays. Last year, I visited Iceland for the week between Christmas and New Years. Unfortunately, it rained most every night so I didn’t get to experience the Aurora but the food was great. The year before, it as a lovely visit to Cabo San Lucas, complete with a boat trip to check out the wonderful rock formations and of course the food..

This year, I had to make the hard decision to stay home due to the coronavirus. Too many countries have a requirement to have a negative test in hand, followed by a quarantine before you can enjoy yourself. In addition, there are places in the United States that are on lockdown, thus restricting gatherings, even family gatherings to under a certain number of people.

Unfortunately, with so many family members falling into the high risk category, and with the possibility of ending up on a plane with people who might have the virus, I made the painful decision to remain at home. I didn’t want to expose myself or anyone else to the virus.

As a result, I did miss the time I normally spend with family. I missed the joy of seeing how everyone has changed or grown, laughing at everyone fighting over the alcohol, and most of all, I missed the opportunity to visit somewhere new. At the end of the day, I realized I am mourning the loss of a normal Christmas season.

I hope I can travel come summer, visit everyone, and hopefully jet off to see somewhere new but who knows what is going to happen. Let me know what you think, I’d love to hear. Have a great day.