Jason and I typically host a small but unruly Christmas gathering every year. Given that we were opposed to spreading COVID quicker than holiday cheer, we opted to celebrate with friends outside in a non-scattering way last December. This forced the festivities to be organized at the last minute when weather could be predicted. I am a planner not a procrastinator, so I was repulsed by my own stalling. How did going against the core of who I am work out? Better than I thought possible.

Since Jason and I knew throwing our usual Christmas party would not be a responsible option for 2020, we debated between holding something outdoors where attendees could stay far from each other or just canceling the event altogether. After all, December isn’t known for its pleasant demeanor, and I don’t think Jack Frost would make a congenial party guest. We waited and watched the weather. When an agreeable Saturday showed up in the forecast, I leapt into action and began tackling party tasks quickly.

With just a week’s notice, we assumed few friends would show up for our impromptu shindig. We were wrong. Attendees totaled 15, which was nearly everyone invited. Initially, I arranged for the event to take place in a restaurant’s outdoor seating area. Eventually, we moved it to a nearby park because our anticipated group size got too large for the restaurant to put each household at a separate table. The menu remained the same despite the change in location, thanks to the versatility of takeout. From short rib hash to eggs benedict, we all enjoyed our alfresco meals.

Jason and I also ordered hot chocolate and various other scalding drinks from Starbucks in an attempt to keep everyone warm. The gesture, although tasty, proved unnecessary. Temperatures never rose above 39 degrees, but continual sunshine and absentee wind augmented weather satisfaction. Also, because we were all starved for social interaction, we probably would have contentedly sat through a manta ray blizzard. The group chatted for three hours, much longer than expected.

I compiled a white elephant video to make a contactless and distant exchange possible. It altered this tradition slightly but by no means impaired the absurdity at its heart.

I’m not the dallying type. The procrastination required for this affair did force me to question my place in the universe, but it didn’t make the event unsuccessful. And thankfully, our careful last-minute planning kept everyone well. Getting COVID for Christmas could be worse than getting a lump of coal.