A family-filled gathering was about as likely as snow in the Caribbean. And even if it did snow, it would probably be corona-shape snowflakes.
This time of year, in Cayman, it is common for family members, who live elsewhere, to come and visit those of us who live on this beautiful island. The 80 degrees and cool breezes are attraction enough to leave cold dark evenings behind in the northern hemisphere, and make merry, the Caribbean way, during the tropical holiday season.
But not this year. The borders are still officially closed, allowing only entry of ‘essential travellers’, defined as people who own homes here, are moving here to live and work, or young people returning from their studies abroad. Any inbound passengers to Cayman have to undergo a ‘Day 0’ Covid-19 test upon arrival, then fulfil a mandatory 15-day quarantine in isolation. They are fitted with an electronic smart wrist band (a tracker) to wear for the duration of the enforced quarantine period, and are forbidden to leave isolation until signed off by the Medical Officer of Health upon receipt of a ‘Day-15 negative test result,’ (which can take a further 72 hours to process.) The penalty for a breach of the conditions is CI $1,000 and six months’ imprisonment. Hardly a warm welcome from the island that used to gather 30% of its GDP from tourism.
But for those who have decided to suck up the chilly reception, and endure the Big-Brother-style quarantine rules, the pay-off is handsome. Here in the Cayman Islands, we can come and go as we please, (as long as we stay within our islands,) and see whom we please, (as long as they aren’t in quarantine.) Folks who have been under lockdown for months in the U.S. might find it strangely liberating that here we can hug, and dance, and hang out with our friends indoors. A Covid-free bubble where there are no restrictions, and few mask-wearing protocols, is certainly a healthy selling point in a world plagued by a pandemic.
Thanksgiving this year, across the USA, was perhaps one of the strangest in the history of Thanksgivings. Bizarre new traditions included ‘Zoom meals’, mask-wearing football games, and dropping off dishes on the family’s doorsteps. The irony is not lost that Thanksgiving in itself is a curious tradition with dubious beginnings. In a historical sense, the very idea that white colonialists would decide to give thanks with an annual feast is actually creepy, when you think of the atrocities they performed on Native people and land. Then of course, we have the BLM movement to thank for raising the whole issue of whitewashing of history, and consider that this might have been enough to squash Thanksgiving in 2020 in its entirety.
But, 2020 also taught us that we need positive mindsets to get through a crisis, and it makes more sense to gently gloss over the sinister side of history. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time filled with family and joy. Often it is the only time during the year when the entire family gathers together. And thus, it is a shame that this year traditional Thanksgiving parties were canceled. D & I celebrated with dinner for two, and several short international virtual reunions, with our real backdrop of palm trees swaying in a breeze of 80 degrees.
The best part of Thanksgiving is the opportunity to consider what we are grateful for. I am so thankful that the teenagers B & A are coming home in a few days. It means that finally we get hugs, conversations in person, and over two weeks of quarantine together. It could either turn out to be an intensely special 15-day bonding process, or ever so slightly crappy.
