Not Your Typical Ornament Exchange

Is anything normal in 2020? Let’s see, being home with my immediate family seems normal. Driving in my car seems normal. Going for a run or bike ride is 50/50. The annual Christmas Ornament Exchange party in 2020, definitely not normal. Historically, one cold December evening in North Asheville, a group of ladies gather to participate in a White Elephant Ornament Exchange. The beautifully decorated home is filled with the sound of ladies laughing, while the smell of lasagna fills the air. After dinner, we fill our wine glasses and adjourn to the living room where we take turns opening wrapped ornaments and proudly steal them from our friends. This “super fun” evening is something I look forward to every year.

My friends are resilient and weren’t going to let a global pandemic get in the way of a tradition. They crafted up an Ornament Exchange 2020 style. During a designated 2 hour block, we were instructed to bring our wrapped ornament to one of the ladies homes. We rolled down our passenger window, handed our gift to the hostess, she handed us one from the car ahead. While safely remaining in our car, we opened our ornament, exchanged pleasantries, and zipped on back to our little slice of quarantine. The party lasted about 90 seconds but I got a great VW van ornament and the annual ornament from our crafty hostess.

Where there is a will, there is a way. This one will not be forgotten.