Danger Lurks With This Year’s Thanksgiving Celebrations

What could be more American than the celebration of Thanksgiving? Begun in 1863 with a proclamation declaring it a national holiday, by President Lincoln, it was always considered to be a family event, a gathering of loved ones to celebrate our nation’s beginning and to embrace the hard won freedoms we enjoy. But not this year. The pandemic of the Chinese Virus has disrupted our lives for nine months and it will cause the upcoming Thanksgiving to be a rather strange and confusing event. The elders of families, most often the hosts for the dinner, because of their age vulnerability, will be in jeopardy of contracting the disease.

This holiday is the most traveled one of the year and out of town guests to the dinner celebrations will be hesitant to board planes, trains and even drive (although that is the safest means of travel, this year) to their host destinations for fear of spreading the disease. Basically, this year’s event may be considered a lost one. But, knowing our American neighbors, friends and relatives, the show will go on. Perhaps a little different, but the celebration will surely take place in millions of homes. Of course, caution should and will rule and there are some steps to prevent the calamity of the spread of the disease if you plan to be a host.

Firstly, don’t invite too many people. It’s important to realize that Thanksgiving could be a real danger to the very people you so desperately want to see. Keep your guest list small in number. Avoid as much lengthy shopping by having a prepared list ready. Get in and out of the stores as quickly as possible. And consider placing your food order on-line rather than shopping in person. Be cautious and remember Thanksgiving holiday is generally one held indoors where germ contamination is a problem.

Give up the hugs and kisses that go with welcoming and leaving the event. Thanksgiving may involve people staying overnight in close quarters. With multi-generational families, please be certain to request that all wear masks as much as possible and have extra throw-away ones on hand and don’t be hesitant to hand them out as you see fit. Ditto for hand cleansers.

You may request that your guests get tested prior to their entering your home. The testing situation is a problematical one. It is not foolproof, totally accurate, are only good up til the time you are tested and wait times for results may take days to receive. And understand that people can become contaminated as they leave the testing site. Caution is urged throughout the visit and day of celebration.

People are well aware of the situation and the dangers that persist. And last of all, don’t run out on Black Friday to get the best prices for your gift lists. Do on-line shopping where you order from the safety and comforts of your easy chair, have the greatest selection of products, don’t have to schlep them home, wrap and send off to your lists. It’s easy, safe and as simple as can be. Let the word, SAFE, be the keyword for this Thanksgiving holiday.