Christmas 2020

 

It might not have been the safest choice - traveling to see family for Christmas during the 2020 COVID pandemic - but, having done it, all I can say is that I'm glad we did!

The entire family came together on Monday the 23rd, including Tim who lives the farthest away. He took two days on the road, coming to Houston.  But on his return he stopped for lunch with friends in Waxahachie, and then continued all the way home that same day. He got to Albuquerque a little before 1:00 AM. Considering his round-trip total of 1775 miles (about 28 hours), it seems obvious that it was really important for him to be with family for the holidays. 

Kelsey was truly "the hostess with the mostest," cooking tasty meals every day. Our Christmas Day meal was a pot roast with potatoes, carrots and gravy; green bean casserole; pasta salad; and dinner rolls. Dessert was pumpkin pie (and buttermilk pie the day after). We couldn't have asked for better (or more)!

Feeling comfortable with the COVID-safety measures that Memorial Church of Christ was practicing, we worshipped together, in person, there on Sunday morning. Afterwards, Chris and Robert picked up food from their favorite Mexican restaurant, and we ate together, at their house, one last time before heading home.

Dan's COVID Hair

So, let's see ... how long had it been since Dan had had a haircut? He was probably close to needing a haircut when our self-quarantine began, the middle of March, so by the middle of December it had been about 10 months.

He tried to talk me into cutting his hair, but I refused, knowing I'd just make a mess of it. When we went to the kids' house for Thanksgiving, he tried his best to talk Kelsey into cutting it. She was reluctant, and I defended her right to say "NO!" So he came home with all of his hair. 

On December 8 he had a regular appointment with our family physician and asked if she thought it would be okay for him to go to a barber for a haircut. She wasn't encouraging; she said it was one of the riskier things to do. 

What to do?! He was exasperated with his shaggy hair, and was becoming desperate to cut it. So, thanks to YouTube he was inspired to purchase an Aircut system (similar to the more well-known Flowbee). It's one of those electric-powered devices that sucks up the hair, with a vacuum, and then cuts it to the length determined by the varied-length plastic guards. 

I laughed at his purchase, saying it was one of those "As seen on TV" promotions back in the era of Ginzu Knives and Hands-Free Toothpaste Dispensers. But he wasn't to be deterred.

The Aircut arrived early in the morning of December 17, and the two of us went to work on his hair soon after. It took us a couple hours, due to our inexperience and the length of his overgrown hair, but when we were done, it didn't look bad! He's so happy to have his hair off of his neck and ears. 

Here are a couple BEFORE pictures:

And the AFTER:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update December 16

BELL COUNTY COVID-19 CASES

Total cases - 10,536

Recovered - 8,762

Active - 1,774

Dead - 140 (83 with comorbidities)

After Thanksgiving, there was a spike in COVID cases, in Texas and nationwide. One school district here, Rogers ISD, has already chosen to close early for Christmas break, due to the upward trend in infections. 

The good news is that Texas hospitals started receiving and administering vaccines this week. The first available ones are going to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. When additional supplies are available, people 65 years of age and older will become eligible to receive the vaccinations before the general population.

I am venturing out for needed items from local stores - of course masks are still required, and social distancing is encouraged. I have, however, gone back to curbside grocery pick-up, as the crowded supermarkets make me uncomfortable. Dan has continued to stay home, following his surgery back on October 26, with the exception of our trip to see our grandkids for Thanksgiving and doctors appointments. We are still worshipping at home, on Sundays, through live-streaming.

We are also planning to gather with family for Christmas. Tim will be driving from Albuquerque, and will join us at Chris and Kelsey's. We pray for God's care, for all of us, during this time away from home.