Christmas Week

When Covid cases seemed on the decline, we began to dare to make plans to celebrate the end of 2021 with family and friends. A cousin from England and her wife bought airline tickets, another friend from Virginia drove up to New Jersey to visit friends. It was weird and wonderful at the same time. After 21 months of hiding we were breaking free.

Then the Covid cases took a sharp turn upward ... from around 1,000 cases a day (in New Jersey) to around 20,000 cases and climbing with no end in sight.

*sigh*

To risk it or not?

To risk it means potentially, probably catching Covid.

To not risk it means potentially never seeing people again.

We risked it.

Starting with church at two Christmas Eve services -- one with everyone wearing a mask, one without.

Followed by seeing slightly extended family on Christmas (a Saturday this year).

Then learning one of those people tested positive for Covid two days later.

Tuesday we gathered with some family we are likely to never see again (and others we are likely to see again this year). Two live in England, five in Western Pennsylvania. Our lives don't intertwine. But we wanted to gather to say good-bye to the matriarch of our family.

Followed by my cousin and her man staying over -- without masks.

Then hanging out with extended family wearing mask, which felt a lot like closing the barn door after the horses got out.

Oh and meeting up with other friends for lunch. Without masks, because, well Covid can't pass while eating. Right? Then we strolled the crowded King of Prussia Mall (unfortunately most of the stores of interest to me were closed, either for COVID or to give their employees time off post-Christmas).

Then friends came over, possibly our last chance to gather before they move to South Africa.

Then Ashley had even more friends over to ring in 2022.

We feel fortunate that one positive case stopped where it started. She tested positive again, but everyone else in her immediate family tested negative, and none of the rest of us (including one unvaccinated person) had symptoms. All of us testing would have been nice, but feels like the luxury getting a vaccine was a year ago. I predict within two months it will be easy to find at home rapid tests. Until then, we cocoon.