Zooming through Thanksgiving
Coronavirus restrictions lead to a different kind of holiday
One of the strangest parts of the past few months has been the way that the coronavirus has affected so many parts of everyday life. It has changed the way we work, the way we go to school, the way we do business, and the way we interact with those we love.
This Thanksgiving that reality was on stark display as both the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the federal Center for Disease Control recommended safety precautions in preparation for what is historically one of the biggest travel days of the year. The fear was that the holiday would become a superspreader event where distant relatives who had not seen each other in several months shared germs with each other, leaving everyone at risk for potential infection.
Even though precautions like restricting travel and gathering in small groups made sense, what made these restrictions doubly frustrating was the fact that so many people have already been isolated for so long. Several individuals I know describe not getting to see grandchildren, siblings, or parents for months. Some have even missed weddings and funerals. This separation has had a gradual, but corrosive, effect on our mental and emotional health. Under other circumstances, Thanksgiving would be a welcome antidote to such frustrations. This year, even that was taken away from many of us.
Over the river and through the woods without leaving our couch
Our family was part of that phenomenon. Normally, we gather with Lily’s extended family in North Carolina (my side gets the time after Christmas), but this year that proved to be off the table. Having thirty people travel hundreds of miles to sit together around one table for a few hours seemed particularly ill advised. Instead, we had a small three-person dinner with Lily’s mom who lives locally, followed by two large group Zoom chats, one with each side of our family.
It was quite a change to be celebrating Thanksgiving in this manner. Lily’s mom did a phenomenal job preparing lunch and we deeply enjoyed each other’s company. That said, we still missed our once a year opportunity to see aunts and uncles, cousins, and nieces and nephews in the flesh. A small two-dimensional depiction of the ones we love on a computer screen is just not the same as being able to give them a hug.
That said, there were still some definite perks from this year’s Thanksgiving celebration. First and foremost, everyone was able to stay safe. Beyond that, however, one of the hidden blessings was the fact that we did not have to choose which side of the family to visit. We were able to virtually be on both the east and west coasts within one hour, all without leaving the comfort of our own couch.
Despite the initial awkwardness inherent from using a new technology for the first time and the strange sensation of being part of the opening credits of the Muppet Show that results from large group Zoom meetings, I was grateful that so many people were able to join us, including some who normally find it difficult to attend more centralized gatherings. Once we got the bugs worked out and everyone signed on we were able to have exactly the same conversations that occur during face-to face family reunions. Gossip was exchanged. Births and relationship updates were shared. We laughed together as we learned about new jobs, hobbies, and events.
In the end, it was still a good Thanksgiving. I pray that your holiday was as rewarding as ours and that you were able to make the most of the truly odd, scary, and frustrating scenario through which we are living.
Likewise, I pray that we will all be able to be back together with those we love again next year. In the meantime, I am incredibly appreciative of all the ways that we can still connect with each other despite everything going on around us.
