There will be turkey for two this Thanksgiving for the first time ever. Then again, 2020 is the first time ever we’ve tried to navigate a pandemic.
Thanksgiving usually means a family gathering to share an extravagant ensemble of dishes followed by several decadent dessert choices amidst good conversation, laughter, and hugs.
This year it will be small but safe.
NH numbers are dramatically increasing as they are in every other state. For eight months, I’ve watched and read the news about the benefit of wearing a mask, washing your hands, social distancing, but the number of cases and deaths kept rising. I was paying attention, I really was.
This past weekend it hit much closer to home because one of those deaths is someone we know. He was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, neighbor, and someone who played a role in making our family what it is today.
It put a name on that death statistic. He is one of those 262,701 Americans who have lost their lives to this virus.
Covid tired? Missing your canceled cruise, mall shopping, dinner out with friends? We’ll be missing this person. Let me tell you, it is much worse.
Stay safe, stay well.
Going small this year, may allow you to go big next year. ❤️
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
So sorry for your loss. I hope you manage to still have a good Thanksgiving. ❤
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We will have a good Thanksgiving day and offer prayers for those lost and for the rest of us working our way through the pandemic. Stay well.
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Oh Judy, I am so sorry for your loss. That saddens me. Prayers for those who have lost a loved one or friend to this horrible sickness.
But there is hope… I have a girlfriend who is immune due to participating in the Moderna vaccine trial. She is 62 and a flight attendant. Prayers that the vaccines begin to roll out!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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My reason for sharing this was to remember that each one of those numbers was a family member to someone so please think safety first this week. I will definitely be in line to get a vaccine when it is available so I can hopefully protect myself and everyone around me. Stay well this week and enjoy your Thanksgiving.
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I am so sorry for your loss, Judy. It’s easy to look beyond the fact that those staggering numbers represent individual human beings. Thank you for giving meaning to the warnings. We will be doing Thanksgiving for two as well.
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Yes, that is why I wrote it to give meaning to the warning because it is easy to just look at the number and not beyond it. Best wishes go to you and the Editor for a nice Thanksgiving day and good conversation with Faith while all three of you stay safe and well.
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Judy, I am so sorry for your loss. I love your thought at the end of your post. We‘ve done turkey for two before and it can be fun. Less time cooking and doing dishes and more time to relax and be thankful.
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That’s right – think positive. Less prep and cleanup and more time to appreciate family and friends and plan for 2021 celebrations.
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Judy so sorry for your loss.
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Thank you. I wrote it because I wanted to remind my blogging friends that the numbers are not just numbers but people and they should take precautions to stay safe this week and during the coming holiday season.
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I had a three day weekend and I spent it indoors. Totally understood. Warm hugs.
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A dinner missed — even a Thanksgiving dinner — is nothing compared to a person lost. The number of deaths is staggering — that’s an overwhelming emptiness at Thanksgiving tables everywhere this year. Grief is a lousy condiment.
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You are so right – grief is a lousy condiment, and one dinner is not worth the risk involved.
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So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with all of you.
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Thank you. Stay well, friends.
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My condolences on the loss of your friend. It’s scary. Your smart to keep it small. Let’s hope we can have a grand time a year from now.
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Thank you. That’s right. We can all raise a glasses on Thursday to a grand time next year at this time.
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I was hit with the reality of it this summer when a former co-worker’s husband died of it at age 51. No rhyme or reason. Some don’t get symptoms at all and some healthy people die. We are careful but we shop for groceries. I find a good cry helps when I am wallowing in self pity and reminded about my friend’s husband who won’t be around when it’s over. I don’t understand people’s attitude. We have a local farmers’ market (indoors) with a mask requirement. People are nuts. Almost everyone dons a mask to go in but there are a few (just a few) who feel like we’ve taken away their birthday. Some people will bring a lot of kids too. Maybe there is no one to sit with them but at this time, you don’t bring the family for an outing of grocery shopping. We rarely go there and if we do, it’s right when they open. Our t-day will be 4 people. My bro and SIL are 90 and I let them decide. They opted to come here for dinner. We are all very careful. The other people who normally come, won’t. Next year will be one helluva holiday celebration. Finally yes, every one of those statistics is a person who would be living if it were not for the virus. Not all of them are old either.
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It is a very sobering time, and I am so sorry for your loss. Yes, I think some feel all the deaths can’t be attributed to those over 80 in nursing homes, but that is definitely not the case for you or me. NH put a mask mandate into effect last Friday, and over the weekend they picketed our Governor’s home with signs including ‘free the face.’ Really. I hope your gathering of four is a happy one as you look forward to larger gatherings in your new home.
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I’m getting pretty tired of people whining that their rights have been taken away. Can you imagine people doing something as stupid as picketing the Govenor’s home during the past epidemics of scarlet fever, and typhoid, etc. A red sign was posted on your door and no one went in or out. Period.
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This is going to be a Thanksgiving to remember for everyone. Staying small is the way to go this year. My condolences on the loss of your friend. All of this just sucks.
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Thank you, and small is good this year. You have a nice day and stay well.
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I’m so sorry about the sudden, unexpected loss of your family member. The stats at our biggest hospital are so random. The median age of those hospitalized is 60, so half are younger. Symptoms are all over the map. Medical staff is exhausted and scared. There are only two things the rest of us can do: pray and respect protocols. Sadly, too many are too selfish to see it that way. I, too, was appalled to see crowded airports on the news. God help us all.
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Thank you. Please extend our appreciation to your family members who work on the medical front lines. We could thank each and every one, but it still wouldn’t be enough to compensate for what they’ve gone through this year on our behalf. Yes, I think respecting safety protocols and praying are our best avenues until we have a vaccine in place. Stay well, friend, and best to all of your family.
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Judy, I am so sorry for your loss. I lamented about ‘missing travel’ in my post today, and gratefully, it is the closest thing to ‘loss’ I can identify with during the entirety of this ordeal. I hope it stays that way. Until this week, I did not even know anyone who had tested positive. My brother is the first, but he is fine and has no symptoms. The big family gathering has been canceled. We stopped participating years ago, and host our own small family (just the 5 of us). It will be small, but sweet. I will be right behind you in line for the vaccine. All the best. Heading into the garage now to begin sorting Christmas lights! Bring on some Cheer!!! We need it.
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Thank you, and I’m very glad your brother is doing well. That hit rather close to home. Happy Thanksgiving to the five of you, and may you have a lovely day with lights.
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Sorry for the loss of your friend.
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Thank you. Stay well and have a nice Thanksgiving. Hope your new family member is adjusting and doing well too.
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I am sorry for your loss, Judy. Thoughts and prayers are with you, and that man and his family and friends. Stay safe, stay well.
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Thank you. Hope you have a safe but nice holiday.
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So sorry for your loss Judy! This is such a difficult time because we can’t even grieve together when there is a loss. Here in Vermont, after a long period of feeling we had got it right, our numbers have grown as well. We have restrictions in place, but I know of at least two families that are having large gatherings from other states without quarantine. One family has had everyone get tested, but we know that is not going to tell anyone if they are positive when they get to our state. I too am baffled why a meal is more important than protecting not only their loved ones, but people in our larger communities. My husband and I will share have our meal and Zoom our kids and grandkids in the afternoon. We didn’t even have to discuss it as family!
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Vermont is definitely doing the best of any states. ME and NH have hung in close until the last few weeks. After seeing what happened after Halloween, Thanksgiving really scares me. Eating at home and Zooming with family sounds like a good plan for Thursday and the future. Stay well.
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So very, very sorry! A terrible loss. Made me teary eyed to read your post. It is beyond comprehension why some people just don’t get it. Sorry to say, a lot of it seems to be ideology, which shows you the power of ideas, even though you can’t see them. We, too, will be alone for Thanksgiving. And Christmas. The first time ever. But this virus is so unpredictable that there really is no safe way to have family over for the holidays. Before I started getting vaccines for the seasonal flu, I never worried about dying from the flu, and I started getting a yearly shot because I didn’t want to be sick for three weeks. What a difference between the seasonal flu and Covid-19!
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First time in my life and in my husband’s that we haven’t been with family, but it is what it is this year – a pandemic. We are fine with us staying safe and keeping our family safe. Yes, it use to concern me too that I might catch the flu. Hmm, how things change. Stay well at the little red house in the woods.
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Will do! Snug and cozy here. Miss the kiddos, but otherwise we are content.
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Very sorry to read this, Judy. I’m not bothered by not getting together with family for the very reasons you mention. If we don’t have COVID and neither do our family or friends, that’s enough reason to be filled with thanks this Thanksgiving!
janet
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Covid free family is definitely reason to be thankful this week. Stay that way.
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You two too. 🥰
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I am so sorry for your loss and send condolences to all concerned. I am finding it hard to understand why, here in the UK, people are so fixated on having a ‘normal’ Christmas. There is nothing normal about this year and we all need to play our part to keep everyone safe. Our Christmas will be just for us two and next year, maybe we can all be together again.
We always have a mini Thanksgiving here at home in Cornwall, using recipes from my brother and SIL in Atlanta, my sister in Hawaii and dear friends in Flagstaff. We will raise a glass to you two too this year. Stay safe and Happy Thanksgiving . xx
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Thank you. I looked up UK’s numbers, and may I say I hope everyone uses good sense so your numbers can stay where they are and not increase because relatively speaking you’re doing so much better. I have never given much thought to the word, ‘normal,’ but it has taken on an entirely new relevance. I will raise my glass to you as well. Enjoy your dinner for two also.
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The numbers are scary on both sides of the pond. The rest of Europe has done so much better than us. We have almost 60,000 deaths now and in a population of just over 60m that’s awful as are your numbers. My heart goes out to all those who have had loved ones die unnecessarily. Stay safe. xx
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Like everyone else has said, I’m so sorry for your loss. Working your way through the loss of someone you cared about is never easy, but doing it through the holiday season makes it worse I think.
We also will be two for Thanksgiving, and again at Christmas. The best Christmas present we can give is for our family to be safe. And the best Christmas gift we can receive is our family keeping us safe as well.
Next year may be back to “normal”……or not! We’ll follow the guidelines and continue to do all we can to stay safe and keep others safe.
I will pray for your family member who passed much too soon, and for all the Covid-19 victims and their loved ones who are left with broken hearts and an empty chair at the table, not only at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but every single day. This is a scene playing out in homes all over the world.
So you folks who think YOU don’t need to wear a mask or practice social distancing, think again. Your selfishness and stupidity is killing people, and causing others to be seriously ill. Instead, why don’t you join us and make the effort to save lives, including your own and the lives of those you love.
Ginger
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Judy, I’m very sorry for your loss. I haven’t personally known anyone with covid but I believe the experts on this. It’s frustrating to see many people not take this dire situation seriously. We also will be having a Thanksgiving for two and looking forward to when we’ve got this thing beat. Happy Thanksgiving.
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Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving to you two, and to many more to come.
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I couldn’t have put it more succinctly, Judy. I am sorry for your loss of someone dear to you, it makes it all the more real when it hits close to home. I wish Americans weren’t so stubborn about doing what needs to be done to curb this pandemic.
Small, but safe is the way to go these holidays. Thanks and blessings!
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I watch the crowds at the airports thinking about all the puzzle pieces moving across the country and then coming back and wonder how we will make it through the potential devastating effects. How many more chairs will be empty, will we learn anything, will the airports be crowded at Christmas? So many questions and answers to watch unfold. Happy Thanksgiving, Eliza. Stay well.
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So sorry for your loss, Judy. We are also being notified of a growing number of cases including one death in our community. We will also be having turkey for two and connecting with family on FaceTime. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
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Thank you. Dinner for two and a family visit on FaceTime sounds perfect for 2020. Happy Thanksgiving.
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My condolences to you and your family, it really brings home the danger of COVID when it touches your family. Despite the relatively low numbers in Australia I am ever vigilant and we intended to “stay small” and enjoy small pleasures with family and friends nearby.
Happy thanksgiving to you and your family.
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Thank you. The best of greetings to you and yours and have a safe but happy week.
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I’m so sorry to read this. Like others here, I truly don’t understand the people who refuse to take precautions and who protest simple public health measures. If we had had unified leadership that had gotten serious about this and had taken drastic nationwide action in March for several weeks, we would not have more than a quarter of a million deaths from this virus, not to mention all the cases of illness, agony, and the lingering effects it can cause. I’ve seen the extremes among people I know, ranging from no symptoms at all (got tested because a close contact fell ill) to a friend whose parents both spent 8 weeks in ICU, fighting for their lives. Her mother survived, her father did not. He caught it because he was a doctor who insisted on helping his overwhelmed hospital treat COVID patients although he was over 60. My own young adult daughter caught it through her job as a teacher; she had a relatively mild case but felt very sick for several days, now thankfully recovered. In addition to all the bereaved families, I grieve for the healthcare workers, who are dealing with surge after surge, who have drastically changed their lives (I know of some who have been living apart from their families for months, in basement or garage apartments), but who continue to see other people acting so carelessly outside the hospitals. I’m so thankful for their dedication and service! I hope everyone here has a happy, safe, and healthy Thanksgiving.
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Thank you for sharing your dramatic experiences with this adversary, and I’m sorry for your friend’s loss and grateful for your daughter’s recovery. We could say thank you every minute of the day, and it would not cover what the front line healthcare workers deserve from us. If only we would observe ‘all’ the safety precautions maybe they could be at home with their families. I think the next eight weeks or so are going to be ugly, and as each day goes by some don’t seem to learn anything about the seriousness of the issue. Stay safe and stay well.
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I’m so sorry for your loss, Judy! I hope you two have a lovely Thanksgiving.
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Thank you. I hope you and yours have a nice holiday as well.
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It’s going to be smaller by a lot, but I do have a Thankful heart so it will be nice. 😍
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You’re right, Judy: whatever it is we’re sorry for missing, it’s nothing compared to a live human being who is no longer here. Sorry for the loss of someone you knew so well. I haven’t had that happen, yet. Enjoy your Thanksgiving for Two all the same. – Marty
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Thanks, Marty, and you enjoy your turkey day as well. Stay safe.
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What a terrible loss… unfortunately one that too many families are experiencing. We’ll be having a T-Day for Two also, and feeling so grateful that those who are missing around the table are still healthy. Take care and stay safe.
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You captured it, Janis. Those missing around the table are healthy and will be back next year – that’s the goal. Happy Thanksgiving to you.
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So sad. It used to be that few of us knew of someone who died from COVID. Now that has changed.
Hope there is a dollop of cranberry sauce along with that Turkey for Two. 🙂
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Thank you. Yes, this morning is cranberry sauce and pie making which is always a good thing for 2 or 20. Stay well, and I hope you have a lovely dinner.
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I am so sorry for your loss ❤
We will also have Turkey for Two
With family gone and friends in adjourning states where we are not allowed nor do we wish to expose them or us.
I hope you have a wonderful day.
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Thank you. I hope you have a lovely day and on that list of ‘thanks’ I’m sure is that new shed which is quite the looker and will definitely withstand any kind of snow load Mother Nature throws at it.
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From your lips to God’s ears ❤
Wonder how much it weighs now just the floors and screws used was close to if not more than 500lbs never mind the steel 🙂
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Oh Judy, I’m so sad to hear this news. Such a loss for everyone who knew and loved him. I hope everyone follows your example and stays safe at home as you all celebrate Thanksgiving. Thinking of you.
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Thank you. Have a good week yourself and stay well.
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Judy, I am so sorry for your loss and sending virtual hugs to you and prayers for his family. I hope the eventual vaccines work to mitigate the virus because it seems that some people just can’t stay home and keep themselves and everyone around them safe.
I’m glad you and hubby are celebrating Thanksgiving at home, without company. I am doing the same. We want to enjoy many more holidays to come.
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Thank you. I think we’d all have been a little safer with a little common sense and some long term thinking. Hope you, Natasha, and your furry buddies have a wonderful day.
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Well said Judy. I’m sorry you lost someone so close.
Soon we will have some real leadership and I think things will change rapidly.
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Thank you. I think we’re all looking forward to a new year. Stay well.
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Hi Judy, I am so so sorry to hear the loss of your friend. It really hits home when it was someone you know. Here in the north east of England we are in the severest of restrictions, Tier 3. There is nothing else that we, the public, can do here but act responsibly and sit it out until the vaccines are rolled out. God bless and keep safe.
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Thank you. You summed it up pretty well – act responsibly. There are a lot of folks trying to do that here, but we have 50 states all doing their own thing which clearly is not working. Relatively speaking, our state is doing better than others, but we are also smaller. One thing that has become obvious is that each person has to contribute to the safety of all. Stay safe and well.
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I’m sorry for your loss. Great post.
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Thank you for stopping by.
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Judy, I’m so sorry to hear of the unfortunate loss of your friend. We have had friends who have gotten covid and one who was hospitalized but thankfully no one that we know has lost their life. We happen to live in the 4th oldest (age wise) county in the U.S. and because of that, people are trying to be very careful. I’ve yet to venture into our Publix grocery store since February, I used Instacart for my holiday ingredients. Thanksgiving was just to two of us and even though we ate alone, we were very thankful for our health. Stay safe and hopefully we will be able to get vaccinated for this horrible disease in the new year.
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Glad your folks all recovered and that you and your husband are safe and well. We do grocery pickup about every 10 days. It works well, I’m grateful it’s available, but I sure will be glad when I can roam the aisles and see what’s new. Not shopping is a small price to pay to remain healthy until the vaccine is available to the regular population. Take care.
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I got to thinking about it and realized that “turkey for two” is a CHICKEN. A big chicken 🙂
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Well, there’s that. 🙂
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