Thanksgiving 2021

 I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. I sure did and because this blog acts as my personal journal I decided to write about it here. My cousin Brian and his lovely wife had invited the family to his home for Thanksgiving. His son was to play in a morning high school football game. Then last Monday morning my cousin texted to let us know that he had had to go to the school to pick up his daughter and his son as his daughter had tested positive for Covid. His other daughter had already been at home not feeling well. He was taking them all to the doctor. My cousin Kristin then offered to host Thanksgiving at her house.

On Wednesday, he texted the news that the original test had been a false positive and that everyone was fine. Thank God! So, Thanksgiving was back on at his home. Some members of the family went to the early morning game which my cousin’s team won. I arrived later as it would have been too long a time to leave Emma. (She could, of course, have gone with me, but I decided against that.)

When I arrived, my older cousins were outside relaxing around a fire while the seven young cousins were inside working in teams to make and decorate graham cracker gingerbread houses which the adults later judged. 

I have two favorite moments from the day. After saying grace, by tradition we go around the table and each person tells what he or she is most grateful for. It started with the sixteen year old football player who was thankful for his friends, his family, and football. Next up was the youngest, age nine, who told what he was thankful for. The kids went first so they were not echoing what the adults had said. It was so refreshing to know that they were all genuinely grateful and happy to be with family on this special day.

Since they were toddlers, there have always been Christmas pajamas given out on Thanksgiving. On Thursday, some cousins wore them all day. This year there was a new wrinkle as the adults received pjs, too! We took a terrific group photo of the whole family wearing the festive, holiday pajamas. (If you see me, ask and I will happily show you the fun photo.)  

Remember I said my cousin Kristin had offered to step in and host the dinner? She had rushed out Monday and bought all the food, so we had another Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday!!! Delish!!!

So, what am I thankful for this year? I am thankful to be part of this wonderful family. I love my cousins, their spouses, and my seven young cousins, and I am so thankful that we could all be together for Thanksgiving.

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Now the frightening news  . . . On the day after Thanksgiving we learned of a new Covid variant, Omicron. At this point, not much has been determined about this variant. President Biden issued a statement saying it is an issue of concern, but not yet time to panic. He continued to urge all to get vaccinated and to get the booster. It is inconceivable that there are so many against getting this vaccine to protect not only themselves but also those around them.

Travel restrictions involving international travelers entering the country have been issued and mask mandates have been extended on planes and trains to at least March. 

Having received my booster, I had begun to feel a tiny bit more secure though I still wear a mask in church and in stores. Now I am wondering if the time is coming once again to crank up the drawbridge of my castle and stay put.

Please friends . . . Stay safe.

 Death Toll:         Worldwide . . . 5.22 Million           United States . . . 780,000+