Social Distancing and Masks

Guilty as charged! I'm really good at maintaining 6 foot distance in public, but I find myself closer when with family.

We're doing some decision-making right now - our daughter has relocated her "office" to our family room while we pack her apartment for an unplanned move, with which we are helping. She is even more isolated, if possible, than we are. We're trying to decide what level of mask-wearing we need to do in our home and her apartment during her non-work hours - I feel we are one bubble, and can drop them except when our other daughter and family visit (briefly & masked) over the next few days. The rest are more conservative, so we'll see.

I will say that 1) I don't enter any crowded place, ever - if there are more than a few customers I stay away, 2) if I go in and anyone is not properly masked, I immediately walk out, and 3) if employees are not properly masked I call the manager when I get home.
Sue

In today's news, I read that this doctor who had observed all the safety guidelines had her 2 grown children home for Thanksgiving. They were extremely careful in their own circles. At Thanksgiving, they wore masks at home while preparing food, sat a good distance apart and only take the masks off while eating. Two days later one of her children called and said he tested positive. Neither she or her other children were affected. So the infected child probably had covid but was asymptomatic when he was at Thanksgiving. We can never be too careful. I'll bring Christmas presents to my grandchild but will not stay. He's only 2 and a half and he wears his mask when he's out of the house, never complains. My children and I are having a Zoom Christmas. I only hope it will be a better scenario next year. Have a safe holiday everyone!

I know when it comes to family it's an entirely different story.

I agree. It's been such a long haul and we miss our family so much. Speaking for myself, this isolation is mentally taxing for me.

@mayofeb2020- Unless your kitchen is huge I have no idea how to cook with someone else other than whoever is living with you. Being inside with people who are not your live in people is very dangerous. My very small community's numbers just bumped up by over 100 cases. Our small local hospital can't handle more.

@mayofeb2020, Like you and yours, my little out-of-state family and I will be celebrating with a Zoom visit.

A married friend with in-town children said "It must be so very difficult for you and your daughter not being together for the holiday." Not nearly as difficult as the thought of having an empty chair at our next holiday gathering, I replied.

If no Zoom available, how about a phone visit with someone on the holiday? If no phone available, how about celebrating the fact that we are taking precautions to stay safe and well?

That has been one of the hardest things for our small group of friends. Our favorite way to spend an evening, for over 30 years, has been to gather for a communal meal in one of our homes, finishing preparations together while enjoying a beverage, then eating and chatting, an finally enjoying a game of cards or dominoes...we have not done this since last New Years' Eve. This summer we adjusted - one couple carefully preparing appetizers, sharing them outdoors, then ordering pizza.
But New Years' Eve was always our most special time (since 1982-3) with a fancy dinner, games or an activity, and champagne at the ball drop... Probably not an option with temps of -2Fand a foot of snow on the ground today...

Sue

@sueinmn
- This is very difficult for all of us. My sister lives 5 minutes away and yet we haven't been "together" but once and that was outside more than a month ago. My brother-in-law works in the city and I just won't take the chance of being around him. I haven't seen my only son in more than a year nor any of my friends or nephew and his partner. It's a horrible situation but as @fiesty76 says, "it's difficult as the thought of having an empty chair at our next holiday gathering. I used to have a fairly large family but it is down to very few now. I don't want to miss any of them.

Merry

My sister and I visited in the entry of her home (masked) for 10 minutes when I delivered her Christmas gift. Normally our 2 families spend Christmas together, with drop ins by other siblings and cousins, so we are both sad. My brother and I live in the same small community in Texas, so are accustomed to a lot of time together - we have had only a handful of outdoor visits since April.

Especially hard was forgoing a trip to visit my husband's only sister who is 84 in Spokane this Fall and my Godmother in Yakima who is 93! We surely are hoping to be able to see them in 2021.

Sue

As difficult as this year has been for all, the new year brings great hope of bringing the pandemic under control and we can look to celebrate this time next year with an even deeper gratitude . Wishing all a safe, healthy and more normal 2021!