If there’s one thing I love receiving in the mail this time of year, it’s holiday cards. I appreciate a good font, a themed postage stamp, and, of course, a festive collage of family photos. One card I didn’t receive but still enjoyed was Jenna Bush Hager’s, which put a creative spin on the tradition. These small mail treasures offer the perfect opportunity to pause amid the chaos — from organizing a family gift exchange (this app works like a charm) and tackling holiday shopping (here’s the perfect guide to last-minute gifts) to baking cookies (these might be a strong contender). Meanwhile, I have yet to watch a single holiday rom-com. As I contemplate which film I’ll make my husband sit through (number 24 on this list is always a good choice), let’s catch up on the news headlines…
— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI
What's Happening
Health
The Holiday Guest No One Invited
What's going on: That familiar seasonal soundtrack is back — and no, it’s not carols. It’s hacking coughs and nonstop sniffles. Flu cases are climbing across the US, with the CDC reporting high activity in states like Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Louisiana. Thanksgiving travel and family gatherings helped fuel the spread — an unwanted leftover, to say the least. And the US is not alone. Japan, China, the UK, and Canada also report a large number of cases. Much of this season’s surge ties to a newer variant called subclade K, which is associated with more severe illness. Symptoms hit fast and hard: high fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and chills. Health officials expect cases to keep rising through December, peaking between January and March. In other words, we’re just getting started.
What it means: You can’t stop a kid from sneezing at the school cookie swap or your coughing coworker who insists they’re “totally fine.” But you can control how prepared you are. If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, doctors still recommend it for anyone six months and older. It won’t block every infection, but it lowers the risk of severe illness and spread. Add a few practical tips: Wash your hands (which somehow still needs to be stated) and mask in crowded places like airports. Improve airflow when you gather indoors — crack a window or turn on a fan, especially when people share food. If you or someone in your house feels sick, test early. Antiviral meds — which require a prescription — can shorten the flu, particularly in the first 48 hours. And then, please give others the gift of staying home and resting.
