Dear Joanie,
Here we are on the first day of 2021. We loved the Christmas card your parents sent: three pictures of you at various stages over the month, including one with Lucile, your devoted companion, most of the time, I think. We have also enjoyed pictures of you at your grandmother Coco's house at Christmas. I think your days must be filled with wonder.
Here in Colorado, we had a quiet and peaceful Christmas. I gave your great grandfather Dougie a Kindle reader. We are lovers of books, books that we can actually hold in our hands and read and turn pages. But Dougie's eyesight is not good, so I have showed him how to increase the font size of whatever he's reading. The Kindle is also good for him because it doesn't require extra light. So often, if he's reading a book, he has to squint and hold it up to a light. I think he'll enjoy it, but he also has a resistance to learning technology; in fact, he doesn't even use a cell phone, which actually makes his life more complicated than if he did.
In passing, I told your Grandmother Coco that I was so tired of fixing dinner every night of the week. Before COVID-19, we would eat out two or three times a week. Right now all restaurants in Boulder County are closed to indoor dining. It's cold in Colorado now, so people dining out of doors have propane heaters and little individual "bubbles" to sit in and keep warm. As high risk people, we really can't do that.
But back to Coco. Hearing my exhaustion over meal planning, she sent: jambalaya from New Orleans; a full ham dinner, including veggies and biscuits; a cheese and cracker tray from Zabar's; a key lime pie from Miami, and, for New Year's, a shepherd's pie, the very favorite of Dougie (there is one piece left as we speak). Oh--and a huge box of pralines. My sister Karol always sends a pecan pie from Texas. In short, I haven't had to plan a meal for days!!!!
We so miss out family this holiday. We were able to do a drive-by to your Uncle André's house in Nederland. We did a quick tour of his house, since his friend Eileen and her son Legend have moved in with him. Everything is homey and warm. We gave Legend two of Dougie's books, which we also sent to you when you were born. It was beautiful and snowy up in Nederland.
We also attended, via Zoom, Christmas Eve services at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. When Coco lived in D.C., we were able to attend services there once. It was moving and beautiful; the camera panned throughout an empty cathedral, save for the altar party and the musicians, all of whom wore masks. We have also been "attending" church via Zoom at our home church, St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in Boulder, where I served as priest associate, now retired. From St. Aidan's, I also am leading a grief group, designed especially for those of us who have lost loved ones during this pandemic.
I'm sure you're aware from everything I've said that COVID-19 is still with us. Vaccines are being distributed, but we have no idea when it will be our turn. I think most health care workers in Boulder County have been vaccinated, and work has begun in nursing facilities. We are told not to call our doctors or hospitals or pharmacy seeking appointments or waiting lists. Supposedly, we will be called by someone sometime or another. More news as it happens.
Sending love, hope, and prayers for peace in the coming year. Welcome 2021!
GG Katie
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