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Empty Christmas market: will it be forgiving after all?
Photo: Robert Michael / dpa
Dieter used to pick up grandma from the train station.
There was no free space at the table on Christmas Eve.
Klaus raved about the agenda and Gerhard Schröder.
Which Manfred didn't like.
Meanwhile Monika talked lonely about her new yoga course.
And in the end it always got forgiving.
And grandma took out the eggnog.
Even then, it took humor to get through the evening.
Sometimes an extra eggnog.
On the other hand, Christmas Eve in the second corona year becomes a kind of loosening master's examination.
Here are a few things to expect.
2G +++++
The planning already took a lot longer this time, of course.
Especially since it was not clear who would be the Minister of Health on Christmas Eve until the immediate pre-Advent period.
And what that would mean for distance and other rules.
At Rosi's pressure, the somewhat unusual 2G +++++ rule now applies to the family, according to which everyone must be vaccinated or recovered and tested negative for at least five days in a row. Better safe than sorry. Except Hermann. Although it is first vaccinated, it always brings the wine and eggnog and was therefore classified as systemically relevant for a short time (you don't have to understand that now). And Klaus. He has threatened to disinherit the entire family if he is not allowed to come; and Klaus is known to own a lot of gravel.
Mama had the idea of simply making two tables.
One with the unvaccinated - and Dieter.
Dieter drives two SUVs, likes to fly to Mallorca at the weekend and has never been to a health food store.
He won't do it either, he says.
Which, in turn, Luise does not find acceptable.
She doesn't want to sit at a table with someone like that.
Luise works at Future on Fridays.
Also good.
Monika measured that there was a distance of 1.50 meters between the two tables.
Order is half the battle, even on Christmas Eve.
Which is to be recommended these days anyway in order to avoid the escalation of disputes about whether the vaccination refusals are to blame for everything - or the vaccinated.
Because, in view of their lack of resistance, they promote the acute threat of the establishment of a dictatorship.
It's hard to say.
Irritated climate.
And where to go with grandma
Grandma is strictly against vaccination, but has been boosted herself for two weeks.
And has already asked if you can not already register for the fourth.
It's just not binary, says Grandma.
Grandma has always been close to the wind of time.
And a little bit against the establishment.
Where did she get it from now, says Rosi.
Grandma comes to the side table.
Next to Kevin, who is now sitting there so Grandma doesn't sit alone.
And because he knows the data.
Hybrid Christmas?
After some back and forth, the idea of bringing in Uncle John from near Oxford was rejected. Hybrid Christmas? That doesn't work at all, Grandpa said. A little tradition has to stay. In addition, the living room is technically not ideal for zoom conferences. In addition, no agreement could be reached on which conference provider is more secure. Kevin is critical there. Now John is to be called later in the evening for a short video greeting.
Optimal conditions - measured against the circumstances towards the end of 2021. And after all, there are other topics. The new government, for example. Monika liked Mrs. Merkel. Dieter doesn't. Silly. Dieter joined the FDP two years ago. Because they at least dare to be against the green opinion terror - and to say that basically all of our problems can be traced back to the unrealistic Greens. Dieter now has difficulties getting used to the traffic light.
Christian Lindner is just flexible, calls Kevin from the side table over to the table of resistance against the dictatorship. The main thing is to rule. Naughty boy, says Klaus. Klaus is satisfied. Klaus already said in 2005 that Friedrich Merz must finally show a clear edge and rule. Which then went really quickly. Klaus is also a little irritated now. Whether that had to be with the woman. And then he always appears so nice now. Luise covers her ears.
This time Manfred shines in silence. He used to always be raised. Because he's in the SPD. And because of Gerhard Schröder, who made politics for people who are not in the SPD at all. And now that. When Manfred prepares the government declaration in front of the family, Luise intervenes. Whether he had not resigned from the SPD a year ago. Embarrassed silence. Manfred had justified this in detail on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and before the meeting of the members of the tennis club with the lack of program. No chance. Even then, Grandma said that it was just uncomfortable for him to be in such a small party. Manfred now has to find the right moment to re-enter.
Well, you have to be thrifty now and invest heavily in the future, Rosi tries to draw the coalition bow.
Because of digitization.
And because of the climate.
Above all economical, grumbles Dieter.
Above all strong, says Manfred.
Luise wants to continue protesting.
Nice idea, says grandma.
And moves the side table between the two main tables.
Are all tested.
And Klaus secretly had the second dose recently.
From the German vaccine.
Bridging.
Uncle John and the empty shelves
Just before midnight, Uncle John calls.
John asks if anyone could send over a few cans of biscuits.
Empty shelves.
Brexit.
A few years ago, John was always the attraction on Christmas Eve.
Because somehow everything was always better in England.
Today they even play good football.
Speaking of which.
In a year the world championship will be celebrated on Christmas Eve, says Klaus.
No, says Kevin.
Dieter lacks identification.
Contradiction from England.
Grandma is betting on Africa.
It used to be more Christmas.
It takes a little more humor in Corona times, but then it works.
Grandma gets the egg liqueur.
Like every year.
Beautiful evening.
Happy Holiday.
