© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

COVID-19 Throws A Wrench In Texas Family's Small Thanksgiving Plans

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

This morning, we are bringing you the stories of families who are trying to make the most of this challenging Thanksgiving. Twenty-five-year-old Rosalie Gonzalez has been looking forward to celebrating this holiday with her family in San Antonio, Texas. Her family has stayed distant throughout this pandemic, and today was supposed to be their little reunion.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

But earlier this week, Rosalie got a text from her aunt, Monica Strickland (ph).

ROSALIE GONZALEZ: So she let us know on Monday, hey, I'm positive for COVID. We're not going to come down.

INSKEEP: Rosalie's aunt is now in quarantine at her home in Chandler, Texas, 4 1/2 hours away. She says the news has been hard on her grandparents.

GONZALEZ: And so my grandma was really, really, really sad. She canceled making pies with me and my mother, so she's kind of just cooking all on her own today. So I think she's kind of, like, processing her grief kind of, like, through cooking.

GREENE: Grief that their tightknit family is going to need to remain apart today.

GONZALEZ: We're very close with each other, you know? And I think we really, really didn't want to miss the opportunity to see each other for the holidays, and so we were careful throughout the entire year. And yet, alas, you know, like, right before Thanksgiving, it happened.

INSKEEP: So one of our MORNING EDITION colleagues was talking with Rosalie. And as that conversation went on, she received a text from her aunt. And Rosalie called to check in.

(SOUNDBITE OF PHONE RINGING)

MONICA STRICKLAND: Hello?

GONZALEZ: Oh, hey.

STRICKLAND: Hey, Rosa (ph). How are you doing, mama (ph)?

GONZALEZ: (Laughter) I'm good.

STRICKLAND: Good.

INSKEEP: Since her positive test, Monica has experienced mild symptoms, we're happy to say. But she tells Rosalie she's worried about infecting her husband and 6-year-old daughter, Erin (ph).

STRICKLAND: Oh, my gosh. We're so careful - so careful. And then it just walks in my home just like that.

GREENE: She's having a hard time being isolated from family right now, especially on Thanksgiving. She tells Rosalie she wants to hold her family close.

STRICKLAND: Even, like, I see it on my daughter - oh, I'm going to cry. I see it on my daughter's face - you know, like, why can't I hug Mom? Not while I'm sick. And it's - that's hard.

INSKEEP: Although she can at least follow Thanksgiving with pictures.

STRICKLAND: My mom just texted us pies. Like...

GONZALEZ: Oh, yes.

STRICKLAND: ...I had this whole thing in my head. Erin and I were supposed to be there baking, and her having an experience with grandma, you know, that time will tell (ph).

GONZALEZ: Yeah.

STRICKLAND: I mean, we'll be there next year, you know?

GONZALEZ: Yeah.

STRICKLAND: We'll be making pies next year.

GREENE: They will be there next year. On that call together, Rosalie and Monica made plans to FaceTime later today. She tells her she'll pass the phone around the Thanksgiving table so Aunt Monica won't feel so far from home.

(SOUNDBITE OF THEODORE SHAPIRO'S "MEET IMELDA") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.