When we think of the holiday season, we picture twinkling lights, packed calendars, cheerful chaos, and the comforting traditions that make winter feel warm. Unfortunately, another seasonal guest tends to arrive right on schedule and it's far less welcome! FLU SEASON often peaks just as Christmas plans ramp up, quietly disrupting families, communities, and especially those who can least afford the interruption.
HOLIDAY BUZZKILL
The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's are already a juggling act. Add the flu into the mix and the carefully balanced holiday rhythm can quickly fall apart. School concerts are missed. Travel plans are canceled. Family gatherings shrink. For many, the season of togetherness becomes a season of recovery.
Unlike a common cold, the flu doesn't politely wait until January 1st. It hits fast, hits hard and often lingers--right when time, energy and patience are already stretched thin.
THE SMALL BUSINESS SQUEEZE
For small business owners, flu season can be more than an inconvenience, it can be a serious threat. December is make or break time for many small businesses. Retailers rely on holiday foot traffic. Service-based businesses count on packed schedules. When an owner, or key employee gets sick, there's often no backup plan. As a very small business, we have NO backup plan and we have to close our doors like we did last week. This causes a trickle down effect. We don't make any money. Our vendors don't make any money. It's a trickle down effect that benefits no one!
Unlike large corporations, small businesses rarely have the luxury of sick pools or temporary stagging. Many owners either work through the sickness (which in turn exposes others, or close the doors until it passes, losing income. People really need to stop and think before going out when they are sick. You just don't know WHO you might infect...from the youngest to the oldest!
CHRISTMAS INTERUPPTED
There's a particular disappointment that comes with being sick at Christmas. The flu doesn't just steal your energy, it steals experiences. Decorating the tree feels exhausting. Cooking becomes impossible. Traditions that take weeks to plan, suddenly fall to the wayside. For parents, there's the added heartbreak of watching children try to keep the holiday spirit alive while everyone feels miserable! For those hosting gatherings, guilt often replaces joy as plans fall apart. Even after the symptoms fade, the exhaustion can linger making the days between Christmas and New Year's feel more like recovery time than a celebration.
WHY OLDER ADULTS ARE HIT HARDEST
While the flu is unpleasant for most people, it can be dangerous for older adults. Aging immune systems don't always respond as quickly or as strongly, which can lead to longer and more complicated illnesses. I am 2 weeks out from having FLU A. I still feel like I just want to hibernate for the winter! The cough is non-stop! I still have no appetite and could careless that it's the holidays. I have not decorated at all, nor do I intend to. Thank goodness my son is hosting this year. Well, that's if we can have a holiday without someone being sick. Since Covid, there have been very few family gatherings during the holiday season. Someone seems to always be sick.
Flu season reminds us that the holidays aren't just about celebration. They're about resilience. It exposes how interconnected we are. One illness can ripple through a workplace, a family or an entire community. For small business owners, it highlights the fragile balance between health and livelihood. If there's a silver lining, it's this: the flu has a way of slowing us down and forcing perspective. It reminds us that rest matters. That showing up looks different for everyone. And that sometimes the most meaningful holiday moments happen quietly, through check-in calls, rescheduled dinners or simply allowing ourselves time to heal. While the flu may be seasonal, so is compassion. And that's something worth spreading all year long.
JANUARY UPDATE FROM US!!!
After being very sick for the past 2 weeks, and after some firm lectures from our doctors about slowing down and taking better care of ourselves, we've made the decision to close our HYDE LAKE ROAD STORE for at least the month of January. This wasn't an easy choice as the store means everything to us, but it's the right one. Rest and recovery are necessary right now so we can come back healthy and ready to go. Our online store, our eBay store and our wholesale business will still be up and running so you can still shop while our main store is closed. Our mini bookstore inside Pickers Dream at 470 E Main street in Gouverneur will be fully stocked.
This time off will also give us time to go through the mountains of books that have been donated plus do inventory and restocking in the main shop. You will see some changes when we reopen. Our new book section will be even larger!
We thank you for your understanding and patience during our time off and we hope everyone stays warm and cozy up here in the frozen tundra of NORTHERN NY or wherever you may be! We thank you so much for your patronage in 2025 and we are hoping for an even more amazing 2026!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Jean & Steve!