Holiday time to be thankful — and careful
More than Christmas and the Fourth of July, more than any other holiday, Thanksgiving is about family. Forget the turkey and dressing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Love, companionship, good times — these are the real items on the menu, the source of our emotional sustenance.
And then the novel coronavirus struck. If any holiday militates against social distancing, it is Thanksgiving, a day made for hugs, handshakes and backslaps (but no need to watch the Cowboys this year, alas). What will the pandemic do to our cherished holiday?
“This year is the COVID year,” Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert, told WEBMD. “Thanksgiving has got to be different. Let’s not get too excited about this. It’s only one year.”
As vaccines and treatment develop, we could be moving into a much different phase of the pandemic by the spring and summer. Make smart decisions now to help ensure the health and safety of loved ones. Keep the celebration small. Follow best practices. And let’s shift our thinking: Thanksgiving is not occurring against the backdrop of a horrible pandemic. The virus is no longer the backdrop or a “new normal.” It is our daily life. We confront it at every turn — at work, home and play. It’s not the time to set aside best practices.
The death toll is climbing. More than 250,000 Americans have died from the virus, but the number will be significantly higher in the days to come as reported cases are surging.
It may seem frivolous, with people dying every day, to long for a Thanksgiving from the past. But it’s not. We, too, long for a return to family traditions. Today is more than a holiday. It is part of our fabric, our national character, and holding onto it will help us gain a foothold on our sanity in these dark times. “Thanksgiving is the meal we aspire for other meals to resemble,” Jonathan Safran Foer, author of “Everything is Illuminated,” once said.
True. But the same can be said about the day itself, a day in which we show the gratitude we may have neglected to express during the preceding 364 days. The holiday will not be the same this year, a crushing realization for many, especially those whose tables will be missing loved ones who died from the virus.
But there are also many reasons to be thankful this year. There is hope 2021 will be a better year, with news that effective vaccines may be ready for distribution in the U.S. by April. Let’s also pause to be grateful for San Antonio’s heart, as residents continue to support the San Antonio Food Bank as a safety net for those who are hungry. Let’s pledge to further that gratitude by committing to workforce development, poverty alleviation and a better tomorrow for all long after this pandemic passes.
Let’s be grateful for technology that brings us together — even if we are apart.
Zoom has helped us maintain — and even forge — connections. Daily users have spiked to more than 200 million since the pandemic, up from 10 million in December, according to CNBC. The videoconference service helps us stay connected during birthday parties, happy hours, even trivia nights; and health experts recommend a Zoom Thanksgiving. “I think that’s totally reasonable,” Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases expert at Toronto General Research Hospital, said. “I love this approach because it’s not, ‘Let’s cancel Thanksgiving,’ but ‘How do we make it safer?’ ”
There are other ways to make it less painful and burdensome. The CDC has issued guidelines. Some are general, others specific to the holiday:
• If you do have guests, or are a guest, wear a mask.
• Maintain a distance of 6 feet from friends and relatives.
• Wash your hands.
• Eat outdoors, weather permitting.
• Bring your own plates, utensils and even food.
• Stay away from the kitchen.
• Limit the number of guests.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched areas. These tips should help limit the chances of contracting or spreading the virus. Do what it takes now to help ensure next year is much brighter. We are grateful to you. Happy Thanksgiving.