Pandemic Week 93: Merry Omicron Christmas!

Christmas Eve
 Christmas 2021 was not like Christmas 2020.  It was also not at pre-COVID levels yet, thanks to yet another COVID variant that wreaked havoc on holiday plans.  What was different?  Well thanks to vaccines, we were at least able to be out and about and attend Christmas Eve Mass, albeit masked.  Unfortunately, the rapid spread of Omicron also meant chaos for travelers with a shortage of COVID tests and hundreds of flight cancellations due to crew shortages.  Theresa had hoped to get together with family for the holidays, but alas it was not to be.  

Christmas was a quiet affair at home.  Anna & Theresa attended Christmas Eve mass (Anna sang in the choir).  Joe was under the weather with some sort of bug (we determined it was likely flu based on symptoms.... not that he could get an appointment or test any place).  Storm was also under the weather with an ear infection (Theresa is hoping the medicine she has left will work since the vet is closed).  We enjoyed a seafood dinner on Christmas Eve of Cioppino - an Italian seafood stew.  Christmas Day was full of packages (Grandma and Grandpa remain the real Santa Claus) and relaxing.  Grandma managed to find matching holiday pajamas for the family, including a scarf for Storm.  Anna received the requisite teenage girl items, including clothes, make-up, and accessories.  She also received one of the Lego architecture sets, which she promptly finished in an hour.  Joe got a new fishing pole and Theresa got a trailer hitch for Joe's car - a necessity for using the bike rack.  Uncle Rod & Uncle Tim even sent a gift for Joe & Theresa - adult coloring books.  Oh sure, one was of Joe Biden and the other was of pooping animals AND they didn't actually send crayons.... but it is the thought that counts.   

The weather was record warm with 68 degrees!  Theresa enjoyed a bike ride (that was something new for Christmas) and finished reading A Christmas Carol while sitting on the front porch.  Storm got to take a walk in the park.  We enjoyed some steaks for dinner, courtesy of Grandma & Grandpa and a movie in the evening.  We also got to walk the neighborhood Christmas Eve and Christmas day to enjoy the luminaries that lines the streets - a neighborhood tradition.

Merry Christmas!

How do you wrap a fishing pole?

Christmas Bike Ride





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