Thanks to COVID infections, we met for a belated Christmas celebration.
We were smart and wore masks, opened windows, moved the air purifier to the living room.
I tried to hug my dad but he reminded me – no hugs! Goodness, how did I forget about social distancing so soon?
Big sis slipped her Croc boots off by the door. (Yes, Crocs makes boots now. I know, it’s an unexpected pivot for a company that mostly sells shoes full of holes.)
Willow cried from the guest room, waiting to race towards our guests with an ecstatic greeting. I opened the door with hesitation, hoping to reason with the bouncing beast.
Instead, she sprinted down the hall like a rodeo bull. Her exuberance refuses to be tamed.
We went to the living room. Dad and big sis chose the green couch (well, the only couch), HJ took the IKEA chair and I sat on the storage ottoman by the TV. We created a socially distanced square.
“Hang on, I have to do something alone,” my dad said as we sat down.
A few minutes later, he emerged from the bathroom wearing a Santa hat and long, white Santa beard with little red and green Christmas ball ornaments attached.
Ho
Ho
Ho
Merry Christmas!
We laughed. I like silly surprises.
After a few pictures by the fireplace and more laughs, the beard and hat came off and we sat down to open presents. I put classic Christmas music on to set the mood. Willow laid in the center of our social square and watched us smile while opening gifts. She seemed happy and relaxed, glad to be a part of the offbeat celebration with her offbeat humans.
Or maybe she was thinking,
Ho
Ho
Ho
Merry Christmas!
But where’s my treat?