Christmas 2020: A Sense of Normalcy?
For my family, Christmas this year was small, different, like everyone else’s. FaceTimes and phone calls replaced hugs and kisses. A negative COVID-19 test, the ticket to come to dinner in person — even then, rightfully so, it was kept limited.
With cases surging in New York and around the United States, my brother stayed up north around Boston. That was the hardest part for me. It was our first Christmas apart in I don’t even know how long. The few of us that got together maintained some sense of normalcy of years passed: drinking too much, overeating, getting way too competitive and fighting over foosball.
My young nephew was the light I think we all needed, excited for Santa, and the day early gifts the jolly red-suited man “left for him” at other’s homes. Watching him ferociously tear through wrapping paper gift after gift, thrilled with whatever toy came next, reminded me of what Christmas is, who it is for, how no matter what, we make the best of situations so kids can be kids.
To me, that has been so important this year, and I give the utmost praise to parents raising young children through all of this. In a lot of ways, I am grateful for the smaller gatherings this year. It has made us all closer than I think we have ever been. I have learned things about the people who make up the foundation of my family that I might have otherwise missed, wrapped up in the chaos that is the usual for my family’s holiday gatherings.
That is what I am focusing on. Not the moments the virus and political turmoil underscored conversations, even when we tried to avoid it. Not the sadness and frustration that my Aunt and Uncle expressed because they could not see all their kids this year. Not the hurt my mom, sister and I feel not having my brother home. Not the angst about the vaccine and what comes next. Not the norm now.
We have and always will, make the best of everything, and I am grateful for that.
Thanks for reading.
