Thanksgiving 2020

Happy Thanksgiving!

At first it sounds like classic irony. I had to look up the word “irony” to make sure I was using the word right. It basically means using words in a way that is counter to what they usually mean implying humor, sarcasm, or emphasis.

Thanksgiving is a time when we usually give thanks. It matters not to which religion you subscribe. It is time in the USA when we take the day off and spend time with friends and family. We usually acknowledge how lucky we are and thank the Lord or someone else who might be listening.

How ironical to say those words in 2020 when there seems to be almost nothing to be thankful for – a time when we are not even supposed to be with other people. Clearly, you will not be in the stands cheering with thousands of people holding a very expensive ticket and watching the Lions and the Cowboys. Of course, if you want to go to New York and watch the 94^th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, you will watch it in your hotel room on television. Don’t wander into the streets to catch a glimpse of your favorite float or the Covid police will get you.

But worse than that, depending on which state or city you live in, you will have to read a Bible of regulations on whom and how many people you can be with on Thanksgiving 2020. And even though you might be allowed to be with four close relatives, two bums, and three jack rabbits, you will still have to wear masks and make sure you are never closer than 182.88 centimeters from any of them.

For sure, there will be no hugging allowed and don’t even think about sharing spit in any way, shape, or form. You should not even shout or laugh in a hardy manner, and it might be safe to wear two masks instead of one. Maybe a lovely face shield to top it off. What a look! Some resourceful entrepreneur will hopefully invent a way to eat turkey and mashed potatoes without removing one’s mask or masks.

Some of you will feel safe disregarding most of the above because two days before Thanksgiving you will stand in a line longer than the ones to get into your favorite grocery store on restricted hours, so you can have someone jab a swab up your nose until you see stars. When the news comes back that you and your 300 friends tested negative, you will spend Thanksgiving dancing to fifties rock, drinking Andre champagne, and finally showing your thanks by hugging and kissing everyone right before you drive home drunk from the dinner party.

Okay, some of the above is partly true. But let’s end on a positive note. Since my year in a distant city has been very small since Covid started, I have had to do what so many of you have done. I had to choose priorities. I could sit around and feel sorry for myself or I could learn to live with a new situation – a situation whose terminal day is impossible to know.

I am strumming my guitar unmercifully, but thanks to teacher Dan, I am coming along at a pace that most snails might admire. I have spent more time in the gym and a lot of time walking around Green Lake cursing at people who don’t wear masks. I have gotten back into reading more and, of course, I keep badgering you with blog posts. Luckily, I met a really nice lady named Barbara, and we are able to safely eat a lot of soup and salads together.

So maybe it is not ironical to say Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you are surviving if not thriving in this special week.