The tree is up, the house is decorated, and we behave as if everything is the same. It’s not.

Our typical Christmas Eve is spent with my side of the family where a normal gathering is anywhere between 30 and 60 people.

Last year, we were in Texas over Christmas and somehow, missing the big family gathering by choice was much different than it is being right here and being denied it.

My parents are in an assisted living facility and are locked down. They’re both alert and aware so in some ways that’s even harder.

Family gatherings in our area are currently limited to 5 people. This means that our daughter and her family can’t visit.

It’ll be just me and hubs, going through the motions of Christmas.

“These so-called bleak times are necessary to go through in order to get to a much, much better place.”

~ David Lynch