COVID Sucks

In some ways, Dear Fiancé and I fared pretty well this year despite COVID.

He trained for and started a new job*, and I focused on my writing in a way I never have before, meeting a delightful, kind, intelligent group of writers in the process.

We got freakin' ENGAGED. I planned a wedding!

But...

I still feel stuck. Stuck wondering when I'll be able to make my next vocational move, and literally stuck in place, getting excited about Wal-Mart trips.

Like everyone, I've had a lot less in-person social contact since COVID. FaceTime and Skype help but they're not a substitute.  

DF came into contact with someone who tested positive, and works in a high-risk environment. We've already told our families that we won't be seeing them in-person for a while. We don't know how long. 

And now, I 'm waiting to hear back about a riding lesson I have on Sundays. I'm assuming that, in the interest of being cautious, I won't be able to ride this weekend. Which may be the epitome of a "first world problem" but it still sucks.

But hey, 2021 has to be different, right? Right?

So This is Christmas - And What Is It Now?

Background: I am a Jewish convert; most of my family is Protestant and Catholic.

My family used to have a two-part Christmas - Home Christmas and Grandparents' Christmas. Christmas Day was pretty laid-back - my parents, brother, and I would have muffins and open presents in the morning in our PJs.

We rarely had anyone over. My mom doesn't like hosting parties. Christmas lunch/dinner were usually simple things - leftover Thai food, sandwiches, nachos. 

On the 26th, we got up early and drove from New England to Central Pennsylvania. When I was a little girl, both sets of my grandparents were still alive. They lived in the same town, so we'd visit my dad's parents during the day, then go to my mom's parents in the evening.