It’s Thanksgiving, a day when I would normally wish everyone a “Happy Thanksgiving.” But this year, in the age of Covid, I wish you all health.
When I picked up my granddaughter from school yesterday, she was so happy and excited. She cheerfully said goodbye to her beloved teacher, an Amity resident, and promised to see her on their virtual homeschool lesson on Monday.
Then she skipped over to my car and jumped into the back seat and fastened her seat belt. “Guess What?” she said bursting with excitement. “I have a playdate with Mary today! I can’t wait! it’s going to be so much fun! Best day ever!”
Within seconds, my phone rang and my daughter said, “Thanksgiving is canceled.”
This prompted both me and my granddaughter to ask in unison, “What? Why?”
She explained that a text just came through from the school that a child in my granddaughter’s classroom had tested positive for Covid, and she would have to go into quarantine for 2 weeks.
As for Thanksgiving, that meant, my daughter would not be cooking for me, my ex-husband and son, and my granddaughter would not be going to see her father at his parent’s home to spend the holiday with their extended family.
The little girl in the back seat burst into tears, not because of her playdate, not because of Thanksgiving, but because of Covid.
“I could be dying right now,” she cried. “I could have given it to you and you could die. I could have given it to my mommy and she could die.”
All of the fear in that 9-year-old’s mind came pouring out. If anyone she loved became sick it would be HER fault, she thought because she had been in the same classroom with someone who was infected with the virus. “If I had just been homeschooled instead of going to school this wouldn’t have happened,” she said, wrought with guilt.
I assured her that we all would be very careful and get tested as soon as possible, and whatever the results, NOTHING IS HER FAULT. I could sick from getting on the elevator after someone with no mask was in there (even though I always wear my mask). I can go down the stairs like a mountain goat, but climbing up four flights kills my grandmother’s knees — so, I take the elevator.
I asked my granddaughter if she would like to write a column about her feelings and she said yes, but that she would mail it to me … why? I don’t know! She may change her mind, I hope not because her thoughts on this subject, especially at this time of year are very important.
In the meantime, I wish everyone a happy and HEALTHY Thanksgiving. I hope that you are celebrating with just your core family knowing that by sacrificing the big, traditional event this year, you are making way for a real one next year and for years to come. — There’s no sense in making gramma sick for one day of togetherness. Sure, Facetime stinks, Zoom is sometimes awkward, but at least it’s safe.
This year has been incredibly difficult for everyone, everywhere. If we just respect the nasty virus and take every precaution to keep it at bay, then we will most likely ALL be able to get together again in 2021, talk face-to-face without fear and even give one another a hug instead of those awful elbow bumps.
At the moment I am getting ready to pick up a Thanksgiving dinner with all of my family favorites prepared by a good friend. My daughter also prepared a plate for me, which I will gladly have for dinner tomorrow night. What’s more traditional than Thanksgiving leftovers? It’s the “New Normal.”