Since the pandemic, I am very choosy about the places I go. People have long tired of wearing a mask or staying home when they are sick regardless of what that might mean to someone like me living with an invisible illness. Despite this, yesterday I pulled out my “don’t give a fa la la la” sweater for day 20 of my Christmas sweater countdown.  I’d decided to spend an evening with friends and family at the Great Big Game Show attraction at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey. I did take one major precaution. I rented out the entire game studio for us. 

12 of us filed in and played seven games including playing their version of plinking and the spinning wheel from the “Price is Right.” And, much to my surprise, my team, the blue team won. The session ended with everyone singing happy birthday to me. 

Afterwards, we headed to a private dinner at Marcus Live. As we shared brown sugar wings, everything wings, lobster mac and cheese, cornbread and other dishes I walked around our table. I thought, “My guests have given me the gift of their time so I can each of them a small token of appreciation.”

This morning, I woke up exhausted and grabbed my “you ain’t getting jack sweatshirt.” I thought, “I’ve already given out most of the holiday presents I purchased and have the others wrapped and ready to go. The only thing I have left to give to anyone not on my list is well wishes.” 

#pandemic #uglychristmassweater #christmassweatercountdown #chronicillness #invisibleillness #greatbiggameshow #americandream #marcuslive