When you have a plan that isn't going to work and no replacement in plan in hand
Felix and Louie came over today. I always like it when the kids come over. We made three of Felix's favorite foods: Jambalaya, Chorreados, and Key Lime Pie.
Here's the thing: Louie said, "So, what are we doing about Christmas?" (Yes, I am an atheist. Yes, I stil l celebrate a secular versio n of Christmas because food, music, lights, and presents.) That took me up short. It's not that I don't like Felix's joyfriend (They call each other joyfriends which I think is fabulous). It's that I hadn't given a lot of thought to the holidays this year. Usually they are easy. The kids and Uncle Byron come over. We hang out, open presents, eat yummy food, and jsut spend a few days together.
This year, there's Covid. Right. Covid. Felix and Louie both work at Target. They live with 2 other people. We don't let people into the house. (today we sat on the deck with them.) How are we going ot have anything near a normal holiday this year? Can we have anything near to normal in 2020?
Ryan goes to school and works at the Big Y. He wears a mask all the time in the house except when he's in his room. Maybe they could wear masks? Uncle Byron is quarenting at amotel for a week and getting aCovid test before he comes over. We'll bubble with him for 2 weeks. The kids can't to that. They will work right up to Christmas Eve. Retail sucks.
So, here we are. It's about 7 weeks to Christmas and we need to figure this out. On the one hand, we have to protect Jeanne becuase seh's older and has health problems. On the other hand, Felix, Louie , and Daxton are really invested in having regular Christmas. I don't ryan cares much. As long as he gets gifts and food, he doesn't care who is here. Ross and Skye are not coming here from Arizona so they aren't in the equation.
What is safe? really what is safer since there is no safe. Reall ysafer woudl be to tell Felix and Louie that they can't come over becuase they can't come in the house. How much of a risk is it to have them come? I don't know. There is so much I don't know. How am I supposed to calculate risks when the variables are all unknowns? The current CDC guidance is that transmissio ncan occur if you spend more than 15 minutes total in a 24-hour period within 6 feet of an infected person without a mask. What about with a mask? IF htat safe indoors? How do we do food? Maybe we can eat at separagte tables in adjacent rooms. Should I close Louie and Felix in their own room for meals? Welcome home son! Now go eat in your room. Doesn't that sound kind and welcoming.
I don't have answers, so don't keep looking for some resolution in this entry. You're not going to find it. I have questions and considerations, but I will have to have some sort of answer in about 6 weeks. I hope it comes to me between now and then.
Here's the thing: Louie said, "So, what are we doing about Christmas?" (Yes, I am an atheist. Yes, I stil l celebrate a secular versio n of Christmas because food, music, lights, and presents.) That took me up short. It's not that I don't like Felix's joyfriend (They call each other joyfriends which I think is fabulous). It's that I hadn't given a lot of thought to the holidays this year. Usually they are easy. The kids and Uncle Byron come over. We hang out, open presents, eat yummy food, and jsut spend a few days together.
This year, there's Covid. Right. Covid. Felix and Louie both work at Target. They live with 2 other people. We don't let people into the house. (today we sat on the deck with them.) How are we going ot have anything near a normal holiday this year? Can we have anything near to normal in 2020?
Ryan goes to school and works at the Big Y. He wears a mask all the time in the house except when he's in his room. Maybe they could wear masks? Uncle Byron is quarenting at amotel for a week and getting aCovid test before he comes over. We'll bubble with him for 2 weeks. The kids can't to that. They will work right up to Christmas Eve. Retail sucks.
So, here we are. It's about 7 weeks to Christmas and we need to figure this out. On the one hand, we have to protect Jeanne becuase seh's older and has health problems. On the other hand, Felix, Louie , and Daxton are really invested in having regular Christmas. I don't ryan cares much. As long as he gets gifts and food, he doesn't care who is here. Ross and Skye are not coming here from Arizona so they aren't in the equation.
What is safe? really what is safer since there is no safe. Reall ysafer woudl be to tell Felix and Louie that they can't come over becuase they can't come in the house. How much of a risk is it to have them come? I don't know. There is so much I don't know. How am I supposed to calculate risks when the variables are all unknowns? The current CDC guidance is that transmissio ncan occur if you spend more than 15 minutes total in a 24-hour period within 6 feet of an infected person without a mask. What about with a mask? IF htat safe indoors? How do we do food? Maybe we can eat at separagte tables in adjacent rooms. Should I close Louie and Felix in their own room for meals? Welcome home son! Now go eat in your room. Doesn't that sound kind and welcoming.
I don't have answers, so don't keep looking for some resolution in this entry. You're not going to find it. I have questions and considerations, but I will have to have some sort of answer in about 6 weeks. I hope it comes to me between now and then.