Life in the Age of Corona

A Daily Diary

Saturday, December 5th, 2020

Christmas Party

My plan worked!

People showed up at the slots they had been given and were super mindful about not staying more than an hour or so. Everyone was very good about wearing a mask when not eating or drinking (including myself!). All in all, I think people had a good time and with the BBQ coals glowing, the fire pit as well as my outdoor heaters on, everyone seemed  comfortable and not too cold. Even I survived four hours outside.

Admittedly I did put my artificial fur coat as well as the Uggs on, which helped to keep me warm. The only thing that is killing me, is my back as no one would sit! I must say I am rather enjoying sitting on my couch now with the heater blasting, my legs up and the laptop on my lap. We did not need the two canopy tents I had bought as it did not rain. It was rather windy when we set up, but even that abated. There was a point in time when I did worry the cookies might just blow away. They did not and neither did the greens I had picked up in the morning to decorate my tables. Same greens are now keeping my roses safe and warm for the winter.

The day started like every Saturday, coffee in bed, the news and social media feed. Then practice in the park followed by thirty minutes in the pool. Once I had showered and dress for the occasion EM and I began party preparations.

My first chore was to prepare the soup. This years’ soup a first for me: New England Clam Chowder. While I did have a recipe, I used that more as guidance and threw in all sorts of other things. Sadly, I forgot the leeks still living in my fridge. Until yesterday I did not know there was such a thing as clam juice. Well it did go into the soup alongside the canned clams, bacon, Thyme, potato, onion and parsley. It turned out surprisingly well and did not even mind sitting on the stove at a small flame for several hours.

While I was busy chopping bacon, potatoes and onions EM spikde the apples and oranges with cloves for the mulled wine and the hot cider. All in all 6 liters of wine mixed with 3 liters of orange juice were consumed. The teenagers worked their way through 6 liters of hot apple cider. I am amazed that I have no left over beverages and almost no left over soup; though I did send some home for Mirek with Barbara.

Like every year, we have ample cookies, even though I send some home with both Becky and Barbara, as well as other baked good left over which does not bode well for my weight. Especially our homemade cookies are really yummy. I think I shall pack the ones left over to take to Germany with us.

EM then made the plates with the cookies, nuts and tangerines while I dragged out and set up the silver ware, the soup bowls and mugs. We did a reasonable job I think of bringing a Christmas feel to the garden. While setting up I was definitely cold as the wind kept blowing at 20 mph. The hot cup kept my fingers warm later, so all was good.

I think the event overall has been CDC and COVID compliant. Never more than ten people at any given time. All outside, all masked. Not always socially distanced though. Especially the teens, who gave up on their fire and moved into the basement. EM, A and the BF are basically residing in the same household, just Alexis is in a different category; I am not sure I am comfortable with them all hanging out inside and unmasked. Pray Alexis is safe. If not, I guess we shall know by the end of the week, which would throw a huge spanner into the wheels of our travel plans.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, and testing and reporting are back to normal 229k new cases have been registered in the USA in the past 24 hours alone. Hospitalization rates are breaking a new record every day as are deaths.

Total cases in the US are 20k shy of 15 million, while the world reports 66.5 million infected people. As emergency use approvals for vaccines are issued, the race to immunize the world becomes skewed towards the wealthy nations. The WHO is trying to achieve a more equitable distribution, but needs funds to do so. Clearly for us to be safe, everyone needs to be safe.

Winter weather offers the virus perfect conditions for spreading. It can survive longer in the cold and spread more easily in dry, heated air. 

Melbourne enforced a strict lockdown for months implementing a “go for zero” policy. For a month now there have been zero new infections and people in Melbourne enjoy life as if there was no pandemic. he key policy element: disciplined lock down for a few months, starving the virus rather than controlling the spread and seeing flare ups which need to be contained with ever returning lock downs. This basically replicates what China did and they also managed to beat back the virus. So, it can be done. Sadly, the USA does not have the commitment it takes to eradicate the virus. Even though President-elect Joe Biden is changing the tune dramatically asking Americans to all wear masks for his first 100 days in office as a patriotic duty.

I dare say none of the Trumpsters will.