I'm an expat from Chicago currently working in Toronto but am fortunate to have my grand parents and many cousins living in Woodbridge and ever since I moved to Canada 6 years ago we've had these huge Christmas and new years parties.

The women in my familly are all blessed with the ability to watch CP24 and listen to News talk 1010 so of course Christmas and New Years as being threatened with cancelation.

But my 90 year old Nonno basically laid it out like this;

• he has likely less holidays left then fingers on his right hand.
• he had cancer, survived
• has 7 great grand kids he was told he wasn't allowed to see the last 9 months.
• and I quote "if I die tomorrow at least I enjoyed today"

It didn't go well with my sister in law, she's a teacher and I'm fairly certain they spike their coffee with Retard Cream, but mother in law and my wife more or less agreed and fell in line.

So we had Christmas, with 15 people, 6 kids and my Nonno, Nonna and it was a blast.

We will also have a New Years party, and if he catches covid and dies, at least it was on his terms. It beats a fall and a broken hip, or more cancer anyways.

My Nonno taught me so much the last few years. We have a garden, and making tons of cured meats, preserves and tomato sauce. We had a blast, and he told me the same stories again he's told me at every get together for the last few years. He drank beer and wine with us and all the kids gave him plenty of hugs and kisses. No government can take that away from us.

That was my Christmas.

God bless.