Blog Post — No Thanksgiving Gatherings

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but this is 2020 so expect things to be different. In fact, things are going to be SO different that those in government are telling us how to celebrate Thanksgiving!

This from PA Health Secretary Dr. “Rachel” Levine: “The holidays are a time for togetherness, but this year, we must rethink what that looks like. This Thanksgiving, choose to celebrate with the people in your household and virtually connect with your loved ones. If you plan to leave your home to celebrate the holiday, please follow the travel mitigation order, wear a mask and stay six feet apart from others. Weather-permitting, sit outside and enjoy the day. Do whatever you can to limit the spread of COVID-19 at this critical point of the pandemic.”

This is what the CDC says, “As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID 19 or the flu.”

Levine is getting his marching orders from the CDC, which discourages travel and wants everyone to “make Thanksgiving safer.” Here’s what they want you to do:

Wear a mask with two or more layers to protect yourself and others
Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
Make sure the mask fits snugly against the sides of your face
Stay at least six feet away from others who do not live with you
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol
Celebrate Thanksgiving virtually or only with the people you live with
If you do gather with those outside your home, bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups and utensils
Wear a mask and safely store it while eating and drinking.
Avoid going into the kitchen
Use individual condiment packets and disposable items like food containers, plates and utensils

If you have guests in your home, the CDC and Dr. “Rachel” Levine recommend you eat outside, limit the number of guests and make sure you tell them ahead of time you expect them to wear a mask and socially distance. Have your ‘guests’ bring their own food and drink. Have one person serve food and use single-use options, like plastic utensils.

Of course, you can play it really safe and have a “virtual Thanksgiving meal” with friends and family.

If you are going to do any shopping on Black Friday make sure to use curbside pick up or shop in open air markets wearing a mask and staying six feet away from others.

Oh, and don’t forget those new travel restrictions that went info affect at 12:0l a.m. Friday, November 20^th: Anyone who visits Pennsylvania must now get tested within 72 hours before entering the state. Those who do not have their test results upon coming to Pennsylvania or cannot get a test will need to quarantine 14 days. Pennsylvania residents who are traveling must follow the same rules, with the exception of those who commute to work in an adjacent state. And don’t forget you must now wear a mask outdoors AND indoors when you are with people outside of your household even when socially distancing!

So, yes the government will allow us to celebrate Thanksgiving — this year — as long as you follow their guidelines. Since when did the government get the power to regulate our holiday celebrations? Is it about our health and safety or is it something else? Is it the government testing Americans to see how far they can be pushed? Is it the government desensitizing us to where we will just automatically bow to their demands?

Or what is it that the government, specifically Democrats in control, are afraid of? Are they afraid that American citizens will get together and compare notes . . . about COVID-19, about the November 3^rd election, about the negative impact government-mandated shutdowns, unemployment, mask wearing and in-home isolation has caused their family? Why does the government want to control every aspect of our lives?

BUT even through this strange year of 2020, let’s not forget the real reason for Thanksgiving:

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

¹Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²    Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.