The end of year holidays are coming, and they’re weirding me out a little. Earlier in the year, when I imagined this year’s celebrations, I imagined a return to pre-COVID events with large gatherings in warm indoor spaces.
But now that the holidays are close, I’m not sure if I’m ready. The Delta variant really threw me for a loop this summer, leading me to cancel vacation plans and quickly throw together a smaller trip with immediate family only. I suppose I’m stuck in that mindset now—the idea that caution is still paramount.
I’m talking myself down from this a little. Though I’m still cautious, I think some gatherings should be fine. Of course there are no guarantees in life, but my family is vaccinated. And the people I’m thinking about celebrating with are vaccinated. And we plan to keep our numbers moderate, if not small.
Life doesn’t come with a user’s manual. We learn from experience, and I’m not in contact with many people who’ve had experience with pandemics. So I keep reminding myself to be flexible, stay informed, and weigh all the factors. Right now, things don’t feel quite like they were before the pandemic. I think we’re all easing our way forward. And that’s okay.
I hesitate to say it again, but maybe next year we’ll be back to normal. How are you feeling about winter gatherings?
If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I wish you a warm and happy holiday!
🍗🥧🍁
