Beech Tree News Network

This year has been a year of change in so many ways. Thus far, the pandemic has changed most of our social interactions. With Thanksgiving approaching - a celebration of blessings, I wondered how this holiday might be different. Thinking along that line, I asked friends and family, “Will your Thanksgiving be different this year? If so, how?” Their responses are listed below.

-Yes. Not going anywhere.

-We’ll have less people, but more love and gratitude, because that grows with every year that passes. Happy holidays!

-I think it’ll be similar to last year…except for the mask wearing when going to the store.

-On a positive note, all of our family wants to come to our house for lunch on Thanksgiving. All others have cancelled because of COVID. I usually try to fit a meal in somewhere with everything else going on. I hate COVID, but I am thankful to have family coming home.

-Not getting together to celebrate.

-Yep. No family gatherings.

-Last year on Thanksgiving I found out my marriage was over. I hope for a happier Thanksgiving this year although with family sickness and COVID, it will still not be what I’d like for it to be. I’m very thankful for my family and friends. God is good to me no matter what the circumstances.

-Ours will be the same because the ones we have Thanksgiving dinner with, we see every day.

-Definitely, no large family get togethers.

-I do not think it will be too different. I think mom will make me social distance with limited people.

-I guess the people attending are pretty much the same with a small family. But for me the difference is the importance – more the concept of thanksgiving. Certainly, it is a time to be thankful, but there are so many people not here who were here last year because of the pandemic. Regardless of political views, the reality is that life is fragile and uncertain. So this year I am more thankful for family and thankful my family has been spared loss to this point, realizing that could change with each passing day. I am thankful for my family’s health.

-Yes, it will be different because I will be out of state working. Not going to be home.

-Yes, my great-grandmother isn’t having Thanksgiving at her house this year.

-Thanksgiving will be very different. I usually cook for our grown kids, who aren’t coming this year. We normally have meals with both extended families, which we aren’t doing. Also, Black Friday shopping is a tradition for me that won’t happen this year. It’s such a different time!

-Unfortunately, I will be celebrating with only our closest family members this year and will be harshly judged by outsiders for doing so.

-I am sure everyone’s holidays will be different.

-No family gatherings in the broad scale, especially with COVID surge. I will reach out virtually.

Bobby Jindal said, “On Thanksgiving I will stop to give thanks that my family is safe and healthy especially because I realize that, following the tragedies of this year, it is all too real a possibility that they might not have been” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/thanksgiving-quotes). This year has certainly highlighted the value of safety and health. And as Thanksgiving approaches - regardless of how I celebrate, I am thankful for my blessings.