· Move the children’s table out to the tool shed.
· Point obnoxious relatives, who expend potentially lethal particles while explaining why Trump actually won the election, in the direction of an open window.
· Warm chestnut stuffing is very pliable. Still, covering your face with it is no substitute for a mask.
· Always get tested before and after cranberry sauce wrestling.
· During family Zoom gatherings, make sure the children leave the room before Uncle Jeffrey Toobin logs on.
· Don’t share food or drink with anyone. As an added precaution, dogs should drink out of separate toilets.
· Stay at least six feet apart from anyone who does not live with you. Stay at least twelve feet apart from anyone you wish did not live with you.
· Avoid touching your mask, eyes, nose, mouth — unless you’re putting the moves on yourself.
· Make the meal more of a shared experience by deciding which family member has been the biggest disappointment.
· It’s okay to loosen your belt after stuffing yourself with turkey, yams and green bean casserole. It’s not, however, okay to maintain any social distance between you and your pants.
Ben Alper writes for late night talk show hosts, comedians and others. He is the author of “Thank You for Not Talking: A Laughable Look at Introverts.”
