Sunday Best: How to weather a not exactly post-Covid Thanksgiving

Virus experts — and an 87-year-old with a zest for life — are here to help.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story November 21, 2021 Thanksgiving is just around the corner, marking the traditional kickoff of the holidays. "It should be a joyous occasion," writes Emily Esfahani Smith. "But some people are not inviting unvaccinated family members to Thanksgiving; others are scoffing at relatives who insist on masks." Considering the pandemic has proved to be what Zeynep Tufekci describes as "a nearly two-year stress test that the United States flunked," such friction is not particularly surprising. Covid rates are high, and tensions are running higher. But it's hardly conducive to a happy holiday season. So we asked three experts to share their advice on how best to navigate another Covid winter. But with all of the complexities we're facing, the 87-year-old Katharine Esty offers a morsel that might help keep us centered amid it all: "Relationships and enjoying time with the people we love are what matter the most in life." This newsletter will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday, returning on Dec. 5. Stay safe and enjoy. — Jennifer Brown What We See in the Shameful Trends on U.S. Maternal Health Especially for women of color. By Sema K. Sgaier and Jordan Downey Rona Segal I Asked Fellow Ex-Israeli Soldiers to Tell Me Their Stories The director Rona Segal learned filmmaking in the Israeli army. Now she turns the camera on her fellow soldiers. By Rona Segal Guest Essay The Supply-Chain Crisis Is Creating a Rare Opportunity for Truck Drivers Trouble at the nation's ports may boost efforts to improve drivers' working conditions. By E. Tammy Kim and Sean Rayford Doug Mills/The New York Times Guest Essay Democrats Shouldn't Panic. They Should Go Into Shock. "No administration is going to thrive in that economic environment." By Thomas B. Edsall Millennium Images/Gallery Stock Guest Essay Talking to Your Kids About Grief Is Painful. And You Have to Do It. Loss may be part of Thanksgiving this year. Here's how to help kids navigate it. By Miranda Featherstone Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT EDITOR'S PODCAST PICK Zoe Zimmer What the Metaverse Sounds Like to Hans Zimmer The composer discusses how streaming and A.I. are transforming movie music. By 'Sway' Subscribe Today New York Times Opinion curates a wide range of views, inviting rich discussion and debate that helps readers analyze the world. This work is made possible with the support of subscribers. Please consider subscribing to The Times with this special offer. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Sunday Best from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018