A Very Special Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I love pumpkin pie.  My blessings are bountiful, and it's important to be grateful.  Most of all we get together with friends and family with no pressure to have gifts.  This year, however, Thanksgiving feels a little tentative.  We will still have pie, and we try to be grateful all year long.  Our family and friends, however, will not be joining us.

This was a difficult decision for us.  We love our friends.  We love our family.  For years my parents have visited from Wisconsin and we would have many friends join our table.  In fact, some of our friends have become "honorary" members of our family.  Pat is our widowed neighbor who has joined us for more than 20 years, and she is "Aunt" Pat to our daughters.  Our dear friend Janet has no other family close.  How can we possibly have Thanksgiving without Pat and Janet?

And then we read the newspaper.  The Covid crisis is at new levels.  The infection rate is rising.  Hospitalizations are going up.  "Community Spread" or small group gatherings seem to be the cause for this spike.

My wife and I had hoped that we would still be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with our traditional gathering as long as we spaced people out.  We really tried to think this through.  While my wife sets a beautiful table, we considered using all possible tables, chairs and even TV trays to spread out our guests.  It just didn't work.  It felt a little like the virus had won.

Then my wife landed on the best idea of all.  This year we will have our traditional meal, but we are taking plates to our family and friends.  (Well, we won't be taking a plate to my parents in Wisconsin!)  Actually, Kim decided to take two plates to each friend--one for their meal and one for the next day!  After all, what is Thanksgiving without leftovers?  Later in the day we will then do a Thanksgiving video call and enjoy dessert together.

When we talked with Janet and Pat about our plans they were completely supportive and understanding.  In fact, Pat quickly asked what she could bring for the meal.  We were caught a little off-guard because we explained one more time that we would be bringing her the meal.  Then we got it.  Even though Pat will not be physically sitting at our table, she still wanted to add to the Thanksgiving celebration by making her special salad.  This was a valuable lesson for us.  Thanksgiving is more than a meal.  It is an experience, a feeling, a tradition that can be continued despite the current crisis, and this small sacrifice now will allow us to celebrate in person for future Thanksgivings.

Yes, Thanksgiving will be different this year, and I know all families will be experiencing difficult decisions.  I wish our entire school community the absolute best holiday.

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