Bad Santa

I have always loved the movie Bad Santa. Billy Bob Thorton is drinking too much and cursing at children in a Santa outfit. But this year a new version of Bad Santa could happen. Covid Santa. It is a difficult time in a pandemic where every decision we make is judged by the level of risk. Could you imagine if a Santa was pre-symptomatic and caused an outbreak? That would be worse than coal in your stocking. I think there are 2 main questions that my family has asked me - 1. My 9 year old son - Daddy, If Santa gets the coronavirus does that mean that we will not get any presents? 2. My wife - Can we take the kids to get pictures with Santa? What we have learned during the pandemic is that the more places that you go your chances of getting covid goes up. 

We know that fraternity parties have lead to outbreaks. And that people that have eaten indoors in the past month have had a much higher risk of getting the virus. We know that limiting time indoors is important to limit one's risk. Malls are using plexiglass. Santa and Rudolph are wearing masks. There is a certain level of separation and children are no longer going to be allowed to sit on Santa's lap. Does this make seeing Santa safer? Yes, it does. But this is all about risk/benefit. But you and your children do not magically make it in front of Santa. This is the process of taking yourself and your children (likely younger children) to the mall. My children touch everything. They never eat their meals but always want me to buy them a snack. They wear their masks but only when they are not playing with them. I will not be taking my children to the mall. I love Christmas and I have not complained that much to my wife who has already started playing Christmas music but this is not a risk we are willing to take. We are going to get virtual Santa pictures.

Many neighborhoods have a Santa drive around on a firetruck and we will go outside and see Santa. I hope that some outdoor Christmas tree farms will have a Santa that you can sit near. We know that people are safer outdoors. Make your home festive. Watch Christmas movies. Maybe see an outdoor Santa while picking out your tree. Spread Christmas cheer and not germs. But try to avoid the mall or else we could be having to re-name some of our all-time favorite Christmas songs. Coronavirus is coming to town or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (who lost his sense of smell due to covid). But Mariah Carey's Christmas song is the best. "All I Want for Christmas is a Vaccine." Merry Christmas everyone. Stay home so that we can all enjoy Christmas next year as well.