Home for Christmas

 

 

 

December 28, 2020

Home for Christmas

As we have been most of this year, Kathy and I remained at home for Christmas this year. The coronavirus pandemic has kept us not only from traveling as we might have, but kept us at home almost every night during the holiday season. With no parties, events or any of the regular things that make this time of the year so freaking busy, we were able to spend almost every evening at home, mostly sitting in the yard waiting for the countless Conch Trains, Trolleys, Bike Tours and passers-by to come by to observe the amazing holiday light display that Kathy created this year.

With the pandemic continuing to set record numbers of infections and deaths, even as the first two vaccines have been approved and slowly begun to roll out around the country, it is still going to be many months before most people, ourselves included, will be able to get vaccinated. In some ways this is the scariest time as the numbers continue to be out of control while many people feel placated and less apt to take the precautions now that a potential end is in sight.

But who wants to be among the last people to get sick, or even worse pass away after a vaccine has begun to be distributed, so Kathy and I plan to be extra vigilant for the foreseeable future. The numbers bear this out as they continue to break records almost daily as there are currently now 19,060,643 confirmed cases in the United States with 336,044 deaths due to the virus. Locally in Monroe County there are 4,083 cases with 2,185 of those being in Key West and 33 citizens who have died from the virus. We passed a grim milestone this week as now 1 of every 1,000 Americans had contracted the virus. It looks to keep getting worse before it gets better.

In spite of the scary and grim times that we are enduring, we are trying to enjoy the holiday season as best that we can and have really enjoyed all the traffic that our light display has generated. It has been an absolute pleasure being able to see so many friends that we have not seen at all for literally months as they come by to check out our lights and say hello from a safe distance.

Kathy and I also managed to get our Christmas card photo taken, the card produced and sent out just in time to beat Christmas as the cards were held up by this year’s holiday slowdown that was worse than ever at the US Postal Service.  I was also able to sneak downtown and check out the member’s show at the Studios of Key West and go up to see their beautiful new rooftop space, “Hugh’s View”. The space has opened and has hosted a few smaller events, but once the pandemic passes will be an amazing place to host parties, receptions and other events as it offers great views of Key West.

It was nice being at the Studios basically alone and the rooftop was so quiet and wonderful, I could have stayed up there all afternoon. But it was a big and important day as it was Kathy’s birthday and we were planning a socially distant fire in our new firepit and to have a few people stop by including our friends Nadene, Trevor and Meredith and Effie, Tom and Greta. We roasted marshmallows, maintaining our six-foot distance and greeted the many other friends who came by the house to say their hellos.

Our friends Mark and Nancy hosted their annual holiday bike tour, a smaller event than usual and of course we did not host a party like we usually do for the event, but it was fun that they all came by the house and that it coincided with Kathy’s birthday. The bike tour did not stop for any of the usual party stops that they usually make, but it was still a cool event that got people out and interacting and into the holiday spirit.

As this year grinds to its conclusion, it has been a really tough year for so many. Illness, death and financial issues have dominated the headlines and have impacted so many of our friends. Kathy and I are so hopeful that 2021 brings about some positive changes. While we have been very fortunate to have our health and to not have been devastated financially like so many, we are still experiencing so many negatives due to the pandemic and are doing our best to stay safe and hopeful as the year concludes.