Well, sounds like pretty much everyone is staying put this holiday season. Disappointing for many, I’m sure, but, without a doubt, the right call given present circumstances. Hopefully sis can set mom up with her internet package by Christmas we can have a festive little zoom chat and look forward to a return to normalcy… Maybe summer of 2021? What do you think?
It’s strange but whenever Christmas rolls around, I really miss Tokyo. For many years, I would plan my annual Japan trips for early December, at a time when the holiday lights and decorations are in full effect. Now the Japanese may not celebrate Christmas the same way we do, but, boy, do they ever out-Christmas us nonetheless. Every year around this time, Tokyo’s Ginza and Shibuya areas transform into veritable winter wonderlands reminiscent of those Hollywood holidays classics. It always made me wistful for that perfect Christmas atmosphere that really doesn’t exist outside of the movies, but boy did it always put me in a festive spirit.
It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since our last trip!
Since I’m in the Christmas spirit, I’ll be gifting you today these awesome Stargate BTS pictures…
Hi, Joe. Please check your email for an interesting list from TV GUIDE.
No Dark Matter 🙁
Heck, I’d be happy just to be able to travel anywhere this month! I did have a nice hike today though out on the Nature Conservancy trail that I help maintain. In +11C weather(!) It doesn’t feel like December in more ways than one.
If there’s not at least some degree of normalcy and we can at least travel in Canada by next Summer, I think I’ll go bananas!
We caused a car crunch in Yokosuka because someone was watching us ride by on the Harley with a five foot bundled up Christmas tree stuck upright in the saddlebag. I was on the back both arms wrapped around the tree. Quite the sight, apparently.
I do miss my annual early December Tokyo trip. Miss the food, vibe, sights and my friends. 🙁
“Normal”? … Don’t know what that would look like. I’m thinking year 2022.
2021 will probably still have lots of restrictions on and off, with the waves come and go. But looks like Japan is pushing ahead with the Olympics, possibly a scale down version. So we’ll see.
Maybe they’ll mandate testings before and after travels and/or the vaccine passport. Who knows.
Doesn’t look like Canada will be getting rid of the quarantine act anytime soon. JT just recently said he will keep it until the USA is more under control. Obviously he’ll want cases in Canada to be much less. I don’t understand why the restriction cannot be relaxed to countries with much lower cases and keep the US-Canada border closed.
Maybe someday I can be in Tokyo in December — that would be awesome. Thanks for the Stargate BTS gift pics. 😀
Yes, it’s a bummer not to be able to move around freely. I’m sure Akemi really misses the annual trips to her homeland.
I am fortunate to live in a Christmas CRAZY neighborhood with nearly professional displays. It helps keep my enthusiasm for the season up.
In the US, they are predicting summer or even fall for widespread vaccine distribution. And an estimated 20% of eligible bozos will refuse to get the vaccine, thus keeping the virus alive and flourishing. I live in a hot spot where the surge is so bad that they have abandoned tracing and are begging retired healthcare workers to come back to provide respite for burned out or sick staff. The NY Times has put three cities near me on the cities to watch list for their surge in cases and, unfortunately, they rely on our urban hospital system for care, compounding the problem. Plus, hoarding has returned. Walmart’s shelves are bare once more.
If I had to guess, assuming the vaccine is good for a year, it would be late 2021 or early 2022 before we can claim that it is in control. How long the vaccine lasts is a big part of the equation. If it’s only effective for three to six months, there won’t be enough vaccine to re-innoculate everyone.
Thankfully, nearly everyone has a way to facetime their friends and loved ones.
I’ve always wanted to visit somewhere overseas in December to check out their Christmas celebrations. How does Toronto compare to Vancouver?
Cheers, Chev