“Home for the holidays” brings to mind images of our family and friends gathering together, sharing feasts, giving thanks, and celebrating with our own unique traditions. As a child, I remember special days at grandma and grandpa’s house with cousins, aunts and uncles. As a young adult, home for the holidays meant my parents’ house, the hustle and bustle of meal preparations, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and football games on the TV. Now, in my senior years, it means our kids arriving home, bringing their own kids, to honor old traditions and make new ones.
This year, “Home for the holidays,” has a new meaning– staying home and staying safe. We can find creative ways to stay connected to our loved ones and put a fresh spin on our beloved traditions- that could be sharing a slice of pie over Zoom, making sure the Menorah shines in the window for others to see or putting a stocking stuffed with toys in the mail. As we look to ring in the new year and the prospect of a vaccine glimmers on the horizon, we can choose to focus on staying healthy and keeping everyone safe. While not something we can wrap in paper or put under a tree, these are real and true gifts. Continue reading