{"id":6128,"date":"2020-12-23T09:14:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T14:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/?p=6128"},"modified":"2025-04-24T16:32:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T20:32:51","slug":"kn-p-268-christmas-thoughts-for-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/2020\/12\/kn-p-268-christmas-thoughts-for-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"KN, p. 268 “Christmas Thoughts for 2020”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"<\/a>If there are no paragraph separations in this article, please double-click on the title to create a more readable version.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Christmas will be quieter and smaller at our house this year. No masks required, because it will be just us. A woof in the background reminded me to tell you that Hammett will be here as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bridget went back to Texas after three months, when the hotel chain she likes instituted safe-zone protocols. She packed plenty of masks, disposable gloves, antibacterial spray, and cleaning cloths just in case conditions were not as promised. They were, but she felt safer having been prepared. She packed food for the two days on the road, in case restaurants weren\u2019t open. Her usual cross country rest stops had restrictions on the number of people allowed in at a time – food selections were limited, but gas was plentiful and cheap. She arrived home safe, but tired. We\u2019ll miss that big smile and warm heart and the roar of the Mustang.<\/span><\/p>\n

What we, and many others will miss are the large friends and family gatherings, the crowded church services with all the singing and hugs, and food aplenty to be had at everyone\u2019s house.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sheila and I live by this idea: \u201cWe may not be able to control what goes on in the world, but we can control our reaction to it.\u201d We looked back through earlier holiday posts and noticed that some of our ideas of living out the reason for the season would not be possible this year because of the Pandemic, but others still work.<\/span><\/p>\n