CLEARWATER, Fla. — Many people are finding a merry way to escape the COVID blues. People are decorating much earlier than normal.
Dana Luzzi works in healthcare and after a very hard year, she can’t wait to get to this Christmas season.
“Usually I start decorating the day after Thanksgiving but with everything going on I figured let's decorate sooner, sort of like a good feeling," Luzzi said.
People who need some happiness in their lives are buying up all things Christmas at a Clearwater institution.
Robert’s Christmas Wonderland has been in business for almost 50 years.
They are making up for the lost revenue that came when they had to shut down for about six months.
“They’ve been trapped and we like to keep Christmas with us year-round and so they said 'I don’t care if it’s September or October, I’m setting up the tree already,'" said the store's "head elf", Josh Frank.
In line with this bizarre year, you can find 2020 themed ornaments like a doctor, e-learning, video games, binge-watching and of course toilet paper.
“It’s a COVID Christmas is how we put it," said Frank.
Lights to brighten up this dark year seem to be especially popular.
“They want to decorate the outside of the house because they’ve been stuck inside now they want to go out and let everyone know Christmas-time is here and I am ready for it," said Frank.
“With the holiday season, it starts to bring the closeness together even if we can’t physically be close it’s that warm feeling you get around the holidays," said Luzzi.
With faces covered and families separated, spirits are down. But as the lights and trees go up, maybe that will start to change.
