Summary

The author reflects on the impact of the Omicron variant on their family's Christmas plans and how they are coping with the separation by creating hand-painted cards to spread joy and connection despite the pandemic's restrictions.

Abstract

The Omicron variant has disrupted the author's family Christmas for the second year, leading to cancellations of indoor gatherings and a sense of loss. The author, who deeply cherishes the holiday, is determined to maintain the festive spirit despite the circumstances. Recalling a unique Christmas experience while working at Club Med in Cancun, the author emphasizes the importance of adaptability and creativity during the holidays. In response to the current situation, the author decides to paint and send personalized cards to family members, aiming to bring a moment of joy and a sense of togetherness in a time when physical proximity is not possible. The author acknowledges that while this gesture may not radically alter the holiday experience, it serves as a symbol of love and thoughtfulness during a challenging time.

Opinions

The author views the Omicron variant as a Grinch-like force that is harshly disrupting traditional family Christmas celebrations.
Despite the pandemic's challenges, the author considers themselves fortunate to still have their job and the health of their loved ones.
The author believes in the power of hand-made gifts, particularly in the context of the pandemic, as a means to convey love and connection.
The act of creating something personal for others is seen as a therapeutic way to cope with the sadness of being apart during the holidays.
The author maintains a positive outlook, focusing on what can be done rather than what cannot, echoing the spirit of the Whos in Whoville from Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
There is an underlying sentiment of resilience and the importance of finding new ways to celebrate and connect with family during difficult times.

Omicron the Grinch: Another Christmas Without Family

How do you make Christmas feel like Christmas without family?

Pixabay license / No attribution required

Christmas with my family was fully planned. Who was hosting, who was bringing what, the works.

Omicron made short work of all that. In two whirlwind weeks, the strain has become dominant in my large city. Once again, we see restrictions on indoor gatherings.

For the second year, no extended family Christmas.

Of all the restrictions these past few years have required, for me, this is the most brutal.

There are many who dislike Christmas or find it a materialistic joke. There’s a whole jaded, exhausted “I can’t” feeling around this holiday.

Not for me.

I’m a regular Who down in Whoville, singing my little heart out in the town square, salivating over the roast beast.

I guess this year the role of Grinch is played by Omicron, forcing us to separate for the holidays.

Even still, I’m one of the lucky ones who’s still here along with all my loved ones. My job is still intact.

It doesn’t change the heaviness in my heart.

In my early 20s, I worked for Club Med. I’d only been in Cancun for six weeks on Christmas Eve.

The Cancun resort is supposed to be for adults only, but of course, that changes for the holidays. We were overbooked, kids running rampant.

That night, the staff did a re-enactment of the nativity story. We brought animals in for the occasion. Apparently, they weren’t well-rehearsed. The donkey refused to carry Mary. The goats were on their hind legs, munching on the roof of the palapa.

We had torches to help re-create that fateful night. Mix torches with Cancun’s perennial breezes and you have a palapa set on fire.

It was quite the show.

My family sent me gifts to Mexico, but with the state of the post office at the time, they arrived months late. The only present I got on the day was from our staff gift exchange. One of the cooks pulled my name and gave me a tape of The Doors Greatest Hits. Everything on it was written in Spanish.

All day, my friends and I sang: “Hola, te amo, como te llamas?”

I had a few moments where I missed my family, but it was still so much fun. A weird but splendid Christmas like no other. I often reference it when I tell people it’s a good idea to mix it up on the holidays and try something new.

But that’s not what this feels like. Instead of adding, this feels like taking away. The cruelty of a virus that separates us from family on Christmas.

Here in the city, the frantic preparation that typically surrounds the holidays has been replaced by everyone running around trying to get a booster shot. I helped two of my family members get appointments at a clinic near me. They’re scheduled for Christmas Eve.

I told them I hoped it didn’t ruin their Christmas by making them feel sick. One replied: “I guess it doesn’t really matter since I don’t have plans anymore 😞.”

That finally made me stop and realize that the others had it just as badly. I’m far from the only one affected by all this.

So I thought: if we can’t be together, what can I do to help make this Christmas a better one for my family?

My extended family isn’t into gifts, but they do appreciate anything hand-made. I wondered what I could make in time with the holidays only a week away.

I paint a little bit. I’m not particularly talented, it’s a hobby, but I enjoy it.

I have some blank cards that have been sitting unused for years. I decided to hand-paint them and mail them out.

It’s funny how turning your attention to others makes you feel better. I’ve got the paints and the stock cards out, coming up with designs.

Do I think this will radically change everyone’s Christmas? Of course not.

But it will give them a moment of joy and connection. It’ll let them know I was thinking about them, and I love them.

That’s pretty much the biggest gift I could give them unless I had the power to eradicate this pandemic.

Like a Who down in Whoville, I’m trying to focus on appreciating what I do have versus what I don’t. It’s what we can do, for now.

I wish everyone who celebrates a wonderful Christmas and may 2022 bring all of us joy, peace, health, and adventure of the good kind.

Gotta go. I have some painting to do.

Need to feel better, too? You may enjoy this send-up of Hallmark Holiday movies.

Concocting Hallmark Christmas Movies from Random Stock Images

“Hurry! We’ll be late for the ice carving contest!”

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