How can we safely celebrate Thanksgiving during COVID? What creative ideas are you implementing to keep the family connected?

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:45:58 -0500

Aside from the obvious Zoom or outdoor celebrating (weather permitting), I'm wondering what how you all are planning on celebrating Thanksgiving this year with your extended families. With deployments and constant moving, I feel like the military has been practicing this for years.

One idea I had was to have everyone make a different side dish and drop it off at the houses of your family so that you can all eat the same thing and "celebrate" together. Of course this only works for those within driving distance.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Nov 16 at 2020 8:53 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:53:12 -0500

We are all trying out the same "new dishes" and then letting each other know what we think. Our kids are across the country so we don't usually get to be with them anyway (that military thing)

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Nov 16 at 2020 10:20 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 10:20:26 -0500

Two of our three kids have moved back home due to COVID, so it'll be much easier to get them all together this year. Immediate family members on both sides have either passed or are a continent or two away.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2020 1:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:38:37 -0500

I'm not - I'm staying where I live because my family is Nebraska where cases and hospitalizations are going up. PLUS three people in my family there have tested positive in the last month - my dad, my nephew and my oldest brother. On top of that, my daughter's aunts on her dad's side both tested positive (CNAs), her sister's mom and who knows who else around there.

So we are not going back to visit for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year. It will be just she and I. If anyone wants to call us, they can. I also highly doubt that the big get together at my grandma's will happen for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year.

Response by SGT Steve McFarland made Nov 16 at 2020 7:20 PM

SGT Steve McFarland — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 19:20:48 -0500

I haven't paid much attention to all the hype that has been put out about COVID-19, so I haven't been hiding in my home to "protect" myself. I have kept up with business-as-usual for the entire time, and even took a part-time job with a business that lost some staff at the beginning of the shutdowns. Business has been booming, and we are on track for a five-fold increase in sales compared to prior years.

I don't have any biological-family, but I have been invited by one of my co-workers to have Thanksgiving dinner with his family, so that is what I am planning for Thanksgiving.

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made Nov 18 at 2020 8:14 PM

SGT Herbert Bollum — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 20:14:08 -0500

skype as much as possible