My 2020 solo COVID Christmas turned out to be relaxing and a much nicer day than I ever anticipated!
I think it helped going into it without any specific expectations and with the general goal of making the most of communicating with family members (who usually come to my house every Christmas) in the best ways possible.
I spent my first Christmas Eve alone, but had visited with a friend earlier who brought me a big mystery present — just turned the lights on the tree and watched Home Alone later. And while I was at the McDonalds drive-through stocking up on my favorite Diet Cokes earlier in the afternoon, the person in the car ahead of me paid for my order. That’s never happened before! And it was amazing what a nice feeling it gave me. So, of course, I had to do it for the car behind me (also a first).
On Christmas morning, my son and his wife in Vermont did a Zoom call for our traditional breakfast where we all eat Grands cinnamon rolls and talk.
The assisted living people called to tell me my mom was ready for her visit, so I went and brought her to my house. They’d dressed her in cute holiday clothes with a white scarf.
Mom napped all afternoon, so my son and daughter-in-law got on another Zoom call and we opened the presents from each other — which was way more fun than expected. They dressed their dog in a festive sweater and the dog and both of them wore antler hats!
After that, I just surfed the Net with no specific goals, reading about people I know on Facebook and looking at Christmas articles. Then I made an easy Christmas dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans and rolls and mom and I ate and opened her presents.
Mom and I called my sister during dinner — and although my mom couldn’t hear my sister without her captioned phone, my sister got to hear mom’s voice.
A couple things that made the day particularly good were my new COVID Christmas rules:
- Eat whatever you want (just this one day)
- Don’t listen to news all day or check news on the Internet
- Don’t even try to do anything constructive
- Don’t think deep thoughts
- Fool around all you want
In other words, just let the day happen at its own pace.
It did… and it was wonderful.
COVID blog posts:
Holiday blog posts:
Unique Adult Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Adult Advent Calendar Gift Ideas
Good Year-Around Gift-Giving Advice
Fond Family Memories: A Low-Cost, Heartwarming Gift for Parents
You Can Make Someone You Love the Best Gift Ever — at No Cost
Inexpensive Christmas Gift for Women who Have Everything
90th Birthday Party Gift and Decoration Ideas
Make a Customized Gift Everyone Can Use in 15 Minutes — for Less Than a Dollar
Record Child’s Holiday Experiences in a Christmas Memories Book
Beauty of an Eclectic Christmas Tree
December Daily – a Fun Way to Document the Holidays
Fun Christmas Gifts and Activities
Super Simple: How to Make a Pine Christmas Wreath in 45 Minutes
How to Host a Fun Girlfriends Wreath-Making Party
Money-Saving Christmas Gift #1 – Extend-your-Beauty Cosmetic Tool
Money-Saving Christmas Gift #2 – Zip-It Drain Cleaner
Christmas Jumbo Wiggle Eyes: Cute Holiday Decoration Adds Pizzazz
Make an Inexpensive Christmas Gift for Less Than $5
Favorite Childhood Christmas Memories
Inexpensive Christmas Gift for Women who Have Everything
Singing Christmas Trees: Sappy but Mesmerizing
The Joy of Blinging Out with Christmas Jewelry
Awesome Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Clothes and Accessories
Yikes! When Did Ugly Sweater Christmas Parties Start?