Covid is Ruining My Christmas! Is That Even Fair of Me to Say?featured

If someone asks me how I am handling the pandemic, I would say pretty damn well. I am doing the best I can to maintain a positive outlook and practicing gratitude as often as possible. I guess that is easy to say when your little bubble is pretty ideal. I have found creative ways to keep busy and entertained. Been going to outdoor concerts, opting to binge shows out of my comfort zone, and staying busy by keeping up with my personal fitness goals.

For months, my new normal has served me. Minimal social media interaction and turning on the news on Saturday nights only if completely bored out of my mind. To me, these habits have kept me as sane as possible.

Have you also adopted new habits to keep your head above water during these hectic times? Share what your new habits are in the comment section.

Last month, I decided to do something crazy, risky, and a little dangerous! I planned an East Coast Christmas trip to see my in-laws and our fresh new baby niece and nephew. I was over the moon as I booked our flights. I thought: “Well we haven’t been anywhere in a while, and what better time than the holidays to book a trip?!” I planned this trip with hopes of also meeting a family member in declining health. There is simply no time to wait in this lifetime. Pandemic or no pandemic, family is all we really have to hold onto.

In the back of my mind, I knew this trip might not happen but I held onto the belief that it is always healthy to look forward to something. New snow boots, check. Long socks, check. And a plaid wool coat, check. If I spend all this money that must mean this trip is most definitely happening, I thought.

Well, as many of my fellow Californians know, we are going into a full regional lockdown as of tonight. Many of us don’t know the full extent of what this means but it looks like our East Coast Christmas may be canceled. It is not really the biggest deal in the Book of Big Deals right now, but my heart was really hoping for this trip.

What better medicine is there than family?

I feel a little broken, not only because we may not be able to show up for our family but because I am being forced to really look at the severity of this all.

I’ve seen family and friends post to social media that they have contracted the virus. I have had tear-filled conversations as people close to me explain they or someone they love currently has the virus. It is all very real but that fact only makes me want to hold my family closer. I know I am not supposed to, and I have never really been the affectionate type, but that’s all I really want to do right now.

Now we have two ‘C’ letter words to truly hate. Cancer and COVID. The greatest killers of them all.

Dear Santa, can you please not let them cancel Christmas and family? I know my list is selfish but I promise I will do better next year…

Love Deeply and Forever,

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