A Christmas to Remember

Like everything else this year Christmas 2020 was really one to remember. The Little's had planned to get together at my parents after Christmas for New year's, but as the Covid numbers grew and the CDC and health care professionals started to beg us to just stay home and not gather in groups we knew we had to do the right thing and postpone our trips. Graham, Hye and Lily's area seemed to be under control, and they are able to isolate more than my family so my parents felt they could go for a quick visit. Hye bought everyone matching pajama's. It was really cute. Even Sunny, the favorite granchild got in on the act.

Bristol on the other hand was another story.  It was determined that our region of Southwest Virginia/Northeast Tennessee was considered to be one of the worst areas in the world.  We were trying to be as safe as possible, but Will and I both had to go into work and Caroline was doing "in person learning" (a new term for 2020- along with "virtual learning", "hybrid learning", "social distancing", "positivity rate", and so many others).  We knew so many people that were getting sick and testing positive. We didn't feel we could safely meet inside, even for a short time.  Most families would have just cancelled the trip and shipped the presents, but of course we aren't most families.  My mom wanted to meet halfway and exchange gifts so we planned a trip to Ripley, WV.  

I don't know how many of you have been to Ripley, WV.  I am not sure that I can say that I have really been to Ripley.  I have been off the two interstate exits.  There is one that has the Love's truckstop where we often meet to exchange a kid that is going or has been at Nanacamp.  This is where we met the two previous times during the pandemic.  Once at the very beginning to bring Owen home and once to bring Caroline home.  We ate McDonalds in the dog park.  Mom said she did not want to be surrounded by dog poop at Christmas so we went a little fancier.  The other exit had a Long John Silvers and a Taco Bell.  It was perfect!  Right next to the Long John Silvers was a burned out fast food restaurant with a nice parking lot. We parked in the lot and proceeded to eat our fine family dinner and exchange gifts.  The view of the burned out restaurant really just added to the fact that it was 2020.  

When it came time to do Christmas with the Carty's we didn't feel we could all safely gather inside so we moved the party to the backyard. Larry built a fire in the fire pit, we wore masks and exchanged gifts.

When Christmas Day came Bristol got hit with a snowstorm giving us the first White Christmas in about 20 years. It truly was beautiful.

While it was definitely not traditional, our Christmas was filled with laughter and love. I cherish it more because I know so many did not get to see their loved ones this year.