Saturday Randomness

I’m sitting here relaxing, listening to a Sade CD (Diamond Life), having a cup of tea and deciding whether to have a piece of pizza for lunch. We’ve been getting takeout once a week to try to keep our local businesses open, and last night was pizza night. (Update – just writing that made the decision for me, and now I have a piece of cold ham and pineapple pizza next to me…I hope we can still be friends)

Tomorrow we’re going to Stockton to see my Great Aunt, so I baked some raspberry scones this morning. I think they could have used another minute in the oven, but they are delicious. I’ve never made scones before, and I worried about them being dry. I will also bring her some portioned out homemade lentil soup, along with some Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuits that I made this morning. She’s 96 and doesn’t cook anymore, so appreciates a home cooked meal when we bring it. We will wear our masks on our way through the house, and sit in her back yard to eat some lunch. And of course, with COVID raging, all of this worries me. But isolation also worries me, and we have a little business to do regarding my Grandmother’s house (where Aunt Flo lives), so we’ll do our best.

Today is the 3rd day of Diwali, the day when families come together, and we light candles throughout the home to celebrate the victory of light over darkness. There is more to it, perhaps the Hindu god Rama is involved, I don’t remember. But we will go to Ted’s parents’ house to have a puja and enjoy some Indian food. Ted has started the roti that will be our contribution. I’m looking forward to it, and again, the COVID worry is there. There will only be 6 of us, and we will wear masks and so on. Holidays this year are anxiety provoking.

It will be the same 6 of us (three households) for Thanksgiving. We will cook our food ahead of time, to minimize time congregating in the kitchen. The leaves will be in the table to spread us out a bit. I hope it is the right thing to do, but Ted’s parents really want it. His mom is 83 and does not want to put her life on hold entirely. She is a very social person and has already had to give up her job (teaching yoga) and going to lunch and movies with her friends. She does not want to give up her family at holidays, when she doesn’t know how many more she has left. So we will follow her wishes and be as careful as we can.

How about you? What changes are you making during the holidays this year? Any? None? I’m glad that none of us have to travel, we are all local. That would make it even more difficult to figure out.