2020 Edition: Thanksgiving & Christmas

Holidays this year have looked and felt really weird. Not many can spend time together, see family, be around elders, cousins, their parents, their siblings. With so many important family figures or relatives passing away this year, the holidays don't feel the same. There's someone or something missing.

Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles, and parents aren't making as much food this year and our houses aren't full of kids or people. The coziness, the whole-ness feeling of being around family and inviting friends over for a plate or family dinner isn't the same. Some families have gotten together and some haven't due to Covid 19, some are so skeptic and afraid so much that no one other than the people living inside the house are there for holidays, birthdays or to eat.

Not being able to visit certain family members has taken a toll on some, but there has been a feeling of holidays this year are about to be basic as hell... but we are all trying to make the best of what we have and who we have right now. Personally, I was able to visit an uncle and my brother, sister-in law and my nieces and nephew this year for Thanksgiving because my Mom and I wanted to drop off some food and spend time with some family this season.

It sucks that there are so many that can't meet up, drop by, sit down for a meal around family, meet up with friends... this year has been so uncertain and full of ups and downs. Personally, for me what's missing in my family are my dogs, a few cousins and a very close Uncle.

Pheobe(Jack Rusell Terrior) and Roxy(German Shepard), they'd been in the family 10 years+. I started this crazy year with them but ended the year without them, they both got really sick over quarantine and my family and I miss them dearly. 2020 has brought us our latest edition to the family, a boy, Bentley(German Shepard) who loves to play 24-7 and be around people.

Although Thanksgiving was joyous, full of laughter, crazy kids, good company and good grub, I can only imagine what Christmas and New Years will be like. What will next year look like? Will Covid be cured? Will it be gone? Will things go back to normal? Will we continue to have to get used to a new normal?

I hope that many of my relatives and friends had a decent and happy Thanksgiving and I wish the same for the holidays that follow. I know some are going through a rough time, but I hope they can smile, laugh and feel whole with the people they are able to see and share a meal with.

Christmas is coming, that too may look weird, but I hope that everyone enjoys, spread the love, feel the holiday cheer and enjoy the company that they'll have while not taking anything or anyone for granted. I hope that everyone gives and receives and puts a smile on someone else's face because the good you put out always comes back to you.

2020 has taught us to reflect, hold people closer to you, and to check on others more often. This year has taught us that tomorrow isn't promised today, to cherish the memories, and to make every moment matter. 2020 has pushed us to grow and embrace change, to do what makes them happy but importantly, to be clean!