So many decisions are being made this season. Some are actually running under the radar. Kyle said that his mom called, sobbing, desperate to see him at the holiday. She considers herself immune compromised. But as a resident of the Eastern part of the state, I imagine that she is far more dangerous to Kyle than he is to her (by outward behaviors and misguided beliefs about science). He agreed to travel, seeing the family for the first time in six months.
People are making life and death decisions. Covid deaths did spike to double as an after effect of Thanksgiving. Some are staying exclusive and reclusive, changing the events of the season entirely. DeeDee and Joe have cancelled Christmas, the traditional Christmas.
And many are ignoring all warnings, and playing roulette with the elder and vulnerable lives. Complex decisions. Ignored and made to seem simple.
When we create the non-Covid related experiences of any holiday season, we make one original choice. I watch myself do it. I tend to pick “complex”. The voice says “Why stop now”… or, rather, “This may be the last.” I’m on a roll. I may as well take the snowball to the finish line.
There is some inner judgment. We could eat take out or frozen lasagna. Simple choices, and everyone would come away equally happy. But I have the refrigerator and freezer packed with the traditional foods, African Peanut Butter Soup ingredients for Kwami, cinnamon rolls for the kids, a beef roast because that is what I remember (and I am the only one who really wants to eat it).
We play a game on Christmas morning, that is, whichever morning we deem as Christmas (December 26th this year). Complex. In a good way. I code clues; they have to decipher them. We are all just humoring one another… biding time ‘til the game drops to grand-kid level. It just didn’t stop, and now stopping feels futile.
I won’t commit to simple. There is too much of my type of love in complex. But I know what simple looks like, and it could be a choice in the future. Simple IS a frozen lasagna, french bread and salad dinner. Simple is one gift to the entire group, maybe another Airbnb at the ocean.
But, humanity is complex. The point of the season is simple. We choose how to live each day, and particularly the Holy Days. There is no shame in complex. It is a choice.
But can we all find the part that is simple within the complexities? The baseline. The peace. As they say, wise women and men will seek It.
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