What do the first Thanksgiving and this one have in common? A feast, a celebration, and a pandemic.
As a kid, Thanksgiving traditions started with the Thanksgiving Day parade in my pajamas, I’d get dressed up nice, we’d drive to my grandma’s where there would be mountains of food spread over the countertops with the dog show muted on the TV on the one side of the house, and the other side of the house was where the TV was dedicated to football and the guys talked about sports. Then we’d eat, leave, and go to my other grandma’s for the next game. We’d talk, watch football, maybe eat again, and have some of my grandma’s no-bake cookies, and then I’d fall asleep on the ride home. Now, it’s hard to celebrate when we can’t distinguish a common cold from a deadly virus.
For many of us, Thanksgiving has always been celebrated with family and friends around a big turkey in the middle of the table as we go around saying what we are thankful for, and this year I’m thankful for my loved ones’ health. It’s almost unimaginable that we may not get to see certain people this time of the year, but I have good news: There’s still ways to see your loved ones in a safe way.
Here are some of the CDC recommendations:
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Wear masks that are two layers thick (or more) over our mouths and noses, if we are not eating.
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While eating you should not sit next to people you do not live with, and you should bring your own food and utensils.
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Limit the amount of guests
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Remain socially distanced at least 6 feet
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Wash your hands and disinfect surfaces often
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If you’re in a climate that allows you to, you could eat outside.
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It’s important this year that we put health above everything else, mental as well. If you do decide to spend time with your loved ones in person, remember to keep yourself safe by staying away from anyone who is sick, keeping your immune system up, and keeping your distance. There’s also many different ways to let your loved ones know you’re thinking about them, even if you can’t physically be with them. You could FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, or even just call.
I know for many of us, we want to be able to see our loved ones in person to tell them how thankful we are for them, but this year, we have to really prove how thankful we are for them in one of the most challenging ways.
Let’s not have another deadly Thanksgiving.