When the state tells you how to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, you know it’s 2020.
California surpassed the 1 million coronavirus cases mark last week and several places, including Marin, are seeing spikes in cases. So, I guess it should not come as a surprise that we now have special holiday rules.
Here they are as I best understand them.
— No more than three families in the house at one time. If grandma comes late, leave her in the car until cousin Bob leaves, or serve her Sonic-style.
— Thanksgiving dinner may only last 2 hours and should be consumed outdoors. If you need to use the indoor restrooms, you must first get a hall pass from the county health department.
— Wear masks and social distance, especially when mingling with the in-laws.
— No super-spreader yelling during the football games.
— Refrain from telling jokes at the table lest COVID-infested laughter occur.
— If you feel the urge to sing America the Beautiful or a Christmas carol or two, social distance and sing only the first verse.
— And finally for children returning home from college, quarantine them for 14 days and limit welcome-home hugs to one. Gloves and masks should be used for students returning from Arizona schools.
Other than that, please have yourself a merry little state-approved holiday. Also, remember that every time a bell rings, a COVID rule gets broken.
DING DING DING
Amid the flurry of state holiday rules and under the rubric “It’s Good To Be The King”, Gov. Gavin Newsom attended a birthday party for a political advisor at the uber-exclusive French Laundry. The San Francisco Chronicle broke the story, putting a spotlight on the governor’s lack of judgment.
At the same time Gov. Newsom was telling Californians to shorten Thanksgiving dinners and have them with no more than three different households, he broke his own rules by attending the party.
At first, the governor used the “Aunt Nancy Defense,” saying he followed the rules set by the establishment. But, after heavy shaming from the science community, he admitted he “should not have joined the dinner.”
You think?
POLITICAL SYMBOLS & SLOGANS
Putting the “Blue Lives Matter” symbol on cop cars in Sausalito cop cars wasn’t a good idea.
The symbol is a flag with one of the stripes in blue. Agree with it or not, it is a political symbol and political symbols do not belong on public property.
The Sausalito City Council heard a number of citizens complain about it at their last meeting and ordered the police chief to have the symbols removed.
That’s 100 percent the right call.
THE PINK WAVE
If you’re looking for a national trend in the last election, look no further than the increase of women in Congress.
After the dust settled, at least 13 Republican non-incumbent women will be in the freshman class of the House of Representatives in 2021. That’s a record and it brings the total of GOP women in Congress to 26. Still a long way from Democrats, who have 88 women in the House (one less than from 2018).
A remarkably good election for women in Congress. It should be celebrated.
KUDOS TO THE COUNTY
The Marin County Board of Supervisors pulled the plug on the idea of buying the venerable Inn Marin in Novato and turning it into a homeless facility. It was the smart thing to do.
While homeless advocates salivated at the prospect, it was a bad fit. Plus, the price tag set by the Inn Marin owners far exceeded the value to taxpayers. There are more appropriate deals out there.
ONE MORE THING
— When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore.
— When an eel bites your thigh and you bleed out and die, that’s a moray.
— When you’re smashed with a jug in a South Auckland pub, that’s a Maori.
— When you see a big boat tied up with a rope, that’s a mooring.
— When you wake up and it’s bright because it’s no longer night, that’s a-morning.
And with that, I’ll pick up my knitting and let myself out. Until next week, stay safe; mask up.
(Sherman R. Frederick is the founder of Battle Born Media, a journalist-based, family-owned company dedicated to the preservation of intensely local community newspapers, such as this one. You can follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/sherm.frederick/. He may be reached at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
If you don’t get the Novato Advance delivered to your doorstep every Wednesday, you are missing out. Call 415-898-0784 and get it started right away. Still only $59 a year.)
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