It’s Thanksgiving again, one of the few days when families, from near and far usually come together to celebrate. However, this year will be a little different because of the continuing pandemic, “chicken little” government agencies like the CDC, and the actions of totalitarian leaning governors like our own Andrew Cuomo.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I have wonderful memories of family get to gathers from years past. However, this year the questionable, and probably unconstitutional actions of state governors regarding our celebration of Thanksgiving may limit those fond memories.

I recently received an email from the Centers for Disease Control explaining how we should celebrate Thanksgiving this year. It begins this way, “Traditional Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends are fun but can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.”

“Or the flu!?!” Come on guys, we have been fighting influenzas since the beginning of civilization. For now, let’s get COVID-19 under control and then initiate another “Operation Warp Speed” to finally develop truly effective flu vaccines. You might even prevail on President Trump to run the program after he leaves office.

The CDC email goes on to tell us to celebrate only with the members of our household but that if we are so irresponsible as to celebrate with those who are not members of our own household we are told to “bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils; wear a mask, and safely store your mask, while eating and drinking.”

In the weeks before Thanksgiving state governors and mayors with totalitarian leanings have sensed that their citizens were enjoying way too much the relief from the restrictions of the spring shutdown and would “frolic” at dangerous levels on Thanksgiving. Thinking that they know what is best for us they decided it was time to get the common folks back in line.

In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who gets too such pleasure placing restrictions on Michigan residents, has placed a new “stay at home order” on them.

In the “People’s Republic of Washington State” Gov. Jay Inslee has issued orders limiting outdoor gatherings to five people and indoor gatherings to one household. Further, as liberals are wont to do, religious celebrations are limited to 25% of capacity. How those figures were arrived at I have no idea and I’ll bet the governor doesn’t either.

Out in “Chicagoland” Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a stay at home advisory for her city lasting 30 days and advised no Thanksgiving celebrations of more than ten people. On hearing that I was immediately reminded of news footage of Her Honor celebrating Joe Biden’s being named president elect along with thousands of others, few who wore masks, and few who showed consideration of social distancing. My advice to Chicagoans who have more than ten people at a Thanksgiving dinner and want to stay out of trouble is to call it a Biden Rally.

California’s Gov. Gavin Newsome imposed harsh restrictions on Thanksgiving celebrations for the citizens of his Kingdom of California. They include: No more than two households including the hosts which must mean that COVID-19 attacks only groups larger than two households.

According to the governor, if you must celebrate, singing and shouting at holiday gatherings are “strongly discouraged.” Newsome says these activities form droplets that will spread the virus. So, Californians if at some point during your celebration you feel like breaking into America the Beautiful or a chorus of the Notre Dame Fight Song resist the urge.

For those who might wonder if Newsome is related to the late Tommy Newsome who played lead sax in the Tonight Show Orchestra when it was Johnny Carson’s show I am happy to relate that there is no relationship between the gifted musician and the less than gifted governor.

Here in New York Governor “Benito” Cuomo has declared that Thanksgiving celebrations be limited to no more than 10 people under pain of something which has not been made clear. Thankfully our upstate sheriffs seem to have more sense than the governor and have been announcing that they do not have the manpower to enforce the regulation. The directive is probably unconstitutional anyway but when has that ever-stopped Cuomo.

An interesting note is that the first sheriff to refuse to enforce the governor’s edict Sheriff Rich Giardino of Fulton County and the Governor were classmates at Albany Law School, graduating in 1982.

Speaking of the governor, after it was announced that Pfizer had a COVID-19 vaccine that was 94% effective, Cuomo said that he didn’t trust the President and would have his own “experts” check the vaccine before allowing its use in New York State.

I really hope that he doesn’t ask the same advisers who told him it was alright to send senior citizens with COVID-19 back to their nursing homes. I think that decision resulted in the needless deaths of at least 22,000 New Yorkers earlier this year.

Now Cuomo is receiving an Emmy Award, awarded by the Television Academy of Arts and Science, for leadership shown in his interminable television press conferences this past spring. This reminds me of Obama’s truly meaningless Nobel Peace Prize

Finally, have a happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the day and time with your loved ones who manage to avoid the Governor’s patrols and come “… over the river and through the woods …” to your house.

Thomas Kirkpatrick Sr. is a Silver Creek resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com