It was Christmas morning, 1988. I was eight years old and understandably up early. I needed to investigate if Santa came and if so, whether he brought me the thing I wanted the most. So I crept out of my room to the landing down the hall. I peered down to the living room where our Christmas tree stood. I saw wrapped gifts and quickly spotted what I came for: the 1988 Macy's Snoopy stuffed animal. YES!

So Covid hit my household for the first time in three years. We were lucky to make it this far and are on the mend. However, the biggest bummer was canceling a long-anticipated trip to visit my in-laws in New Orleans. We were headed down to enjoy Mardi Gras parades! If you were following me last year, you may remember that it was somehow my first time going to Carnival* despite counting a native New Orleanian as my significant other since 2003!