Turkey, Warm Fires and Change
The sights, sounds and smells of the crackling fire in my living room last night brought about some real memories. Having just moved into an old-style ranch, circa 1952, and one quite reminiscent of the house I grew up in in Lake Oswego in the 70’s, the fire helped bring things further to life. Along with the cheery sounds of my two girls running all over, playing hide-n-go-seek with two of their friends, last evening was my first (albeit small) dinner party in my new digs and what a great night it was. Masked as we were (yes, we’re following strong guidelines on COVID-19 for any and all things indoors in particular), we had plenty to discuss. From the election to Netflix must-watches to the upcoming holidays and thoughts on how to stay safe, us “adults” were not short on topics. 2020 has indeed been a time of big change, some good, some not so good…yet here we are, on the cusp of what feels like another era. Don’t you feel it? There is more change afoot…and we shall soon see what it coalesces into.
The roar of a real fire in the fireplace simply takes me back…I just love it. Image Courtesy: Headway via Unsplash.com
Hopefully we’ll get ahead of COVID-19 and find our way back to a relative “normal.” Hopefully our nation can heal, whomever is at the helm. And yet, in the interim, we’ve got to plan for how things are. We’ve got a full holiday season in front of us and two, important focal points are how to stay safe AND how to keep important traditions. After all, whether it’s the building of a cozy, indoor fire or making the family Thanksgiving holiday one to truly remember, traditions are truly what root us.
Let’s Talk Turkey
So Thanksgiving is fast approaching and so many people are wondering just what to do, if anything. Certainly with the Coronavirus raging and seeming to set a new record almost daily, prudence suggests having zero “get togethers” and avoiding contact with other persons as much as freedom permits. No doubt this is what you’ll see from the CDC and others. Of course, not everyone will follow these recommendations. Thus, I’m looking at this important, highly traditional holiday in three different ways: Abstaining, Virtual Get Togethers and Exchanges and Traditional with Tips. I’ll go through each below:
Abstaining
Like anything where there is a risk, simply not doing the activity can eliminate the risk entirely. Don’t want to be involved in a car accident? Stay off the road. Don’t want to get bit by a shark? Don’t swim in the ocean. So when it comes to Thanksgiving, where the risk of contracting the Coronavirus can be firmly-heightened by the close, indoor proximity with others, holding off this year makes real sense. I know I’m headed this route, just hunkering down, as “there’s always next year” and I don’t want to put at risk any of the extended family or friends I’d normally see. Of course, I’ll miss the great food that comes from the normally “potluck"-style event, and more importantly, the hugs and stories, but like a lot of things in 2020 we’ve had to do without…it’ll just be that much sweeter when it comes back around in 2021. And there are also some neat, hybrid activities to enhance things, even if you’re not together.
Virtual Get Togethers & Exchanges
While the traditional, in-person get togethers are on-hold (and you’ve made the decision to play it safe), there are still ways to enjoy one another. Here’s a list of some options that will hopefully enhance things for you and yours under these circumstances:
Virtual get togethers: I know we’ve all had our share of zoom, but it’s been a handy tool and one that can really make up for a total hold-off on Thanksgiving. Sure, it won’t be the same, but getting a virtual Thanksgiving set up for your family and friends is leagues better than doing nothing at all. I’ve been reading about this option quite a bit and have found that folks are planning to gather (via zoom or otherwise) to cook together, open gifts, do crafts, listen to music and read stories (especially to the little ones). Some that aren’t as tech savvy (and haven’t been doing online schooling to hone their online skills to a razor’s edge), may need assistance getting dialed in. But the effort looks to be worth it. Just make sure you don’t mess up times zones if bringing people together from across the country/world. A true bit of togetherness can easily result here.
Remote potluck: The idea of a remote potluck sounds pretty intriguing, although it’ll take a solid bit of planning to execute well. I’ve read that people are having ingredients sent to each other’s homes so they can log on and cook together on-screen. Others are sending fully-cooked dishes to multiple homes (that seems tough, but it is being planned for). Whatever the plan here, be sure to institute procedures of providing clean packaging and washing hands after handling any and all packaging.
Want to learn or share a great, family recipe? This can be a GREAT way to get together and bond virtually. Image Courtesy: Mohammad Fahim via Unsplash.com
Learn a recipe together: Is there someone in your family that just has it down when it comes to mashed potatoes? Stuffing? Gravy? Why not tap them to teach the whole family how to cook that amazing dish? Provide all necessary ingredients well ahead of time and let the good times roll. I can see this being a very popular and fun way to enjoy each other’s company in a safe way.
Secret Gifts: Another option to make things fun in a virtual sense is to do a secret gift exchange. By selecting and sending gifts through no-contact options (Amazon, etc.), family and friends can assign one another a secret gift recipient. Opening these gifts online, whether at Thanksgiving or otherwise, is a great way to enjoy each other and create togetherness. By taking turns opening, all can enjoy the process.
Ugly Sweaters: If you have folks that are willing, try instituting a theme for your gathering. Ugly sweaters? funny hats? Having a theme like this can add an extra fun element and get people laughing (always good).
So you plan to get together anyway, despite the Coronavirus. Many are in this camp and aren't willing to give up such an important, yearly tradition. If you're going this route, here are some valuable tips to help reduce risk and hopefully keep everyone as safe as possible. NOTE: I got the bulk of this safety material from both the CDC and WA state authorities on the Coronavirus:
Before you gather
Have "the conversation." Get clear with friends and family about how you will make safety a priority when spending time together. Set some ground rules that will help everyone know what to expect. View a sample conversation guide.
Review your guest list. Are there people who may be in a high-risk category or children? Think about special needs and precautions as part of your planning.
Check your space and gather outside if possible. Is there room to spread out, at least 6 feet (2m) from people you don't live with? If not, is there an outdoor space, like a park, where you could meet? If outside, will there be restrooms people can use? If inside, be sure your room is well ventilated by opening windows. Remind guests to wear warm clothes!
Right-size your guest list. Limit the number of guests based on the number allowed in your county per the Safe Start Plan and the outdoor or indoor space available that will enable you to be 6 feet apart.
Do a health check. Ask if anyone has had symptoms, such as cough, fever, or shortness of breath, in the last two weeks. Ask guests to check their temperature before arriving. Anyone with a fever—or who has had other symptoms or knows they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within the last two weeks—should stay home.
Consider the children. Kids have trouble playing 6 feet apart, so wearing masks and frequent hand-washing may be the safest action plan. Remember: kids under two should never wear masks!
Make a food plan. Talk through details like how food will be shared. The safest option is to have everyone bring their food. If sharing, separate food ahead of time into individual servings and forgo communal bowls and utensils.
Clean, clean, clean. If you're hosting, frequently disinfect surfaces people may encounter during their visit.
Consider pre-event quarantine. Can all participants (including yourself) self-quarantine for 14 days before the gathering?
Get tested. If you have been around many other people or do not regularly wear a mask, get a COVID-19 test to ensure you're negative. Please consider that it can take a few days to receive test results. If you test negative, you still need to wear a mask and keep your distance from others when you socialize.
While you gather
Wash early and often. Ask adults and kids to wash hands on arrival, before and after eating, and before they leave with soap for at least 20 seconds. If there is no access to a sink, provide hand sanitizer.
Gather outdoors if at all possible. If indoors, open windows to increase ventilation.
Mask up. Wear a face covering at all times when not eating. Consider having extra masks on hand if people forget.
Separate servings. Avoid communal food and sharing utensils, even with babies and young children. Don’t share drinks.
Avoid close contact. Smiles and air hugs only, and prepare kids ahead of time to do the same.
After you gather
Wash hands (again). Wash for 20 seconds with soap and water.
Sanitize. Clean all surfaces that may have been touched by guests such as tabletops, counters, doorknobs and bathroom fixtures, with soap and water first, and then a disinfecting agent.
Watch for symptoms. Alert others at the gathering if there’s a positive test among anyone in attendance. Learn more about what to do if you’ve been exposed.
*I got the bulk of this before, during and after gathering safety material from both the CDC and WA state authorities on the Coronavirus
Well, I’m sure the consideration of what to do on Thanksgiving isn’t a topic new to your mind. Certainly we’ve all been thinking about holiday gatherings and (sadly) the risk they pose. Yet when it comes to your decision on what to do this year, both with Thanksgiving and other, upcoming holidays, this is personal. Only you can decide what you’re comfortable doing and whether the risk is worth it. Whatever your route I hope you can maintain safety and find a good way to enjoy things. No doubt these traditions are central to who we are, so making an effort is worth it, even if things look radically different than the normal, big dinner at Grandma’s. Put the planning and time into the process to make things smooth and fun. And hey, this time next year? Well, hopefully we’ll not be having this conversation!
While you may not be hosting a “live gathering” of friends and family this Thanksgiving, your warm, cozy home will be there next year…ready and waiting. Instead, gather virtually, make hybrid plans, stay safe and be thankful for what we all do have. Image Courtesy: Vincent Ledvina via Unsplash.com