On Monday night, the frenzy of holiday preparations was over.
Gifts were bought and wrapped. Trees were trimmed. Even the stockings had been hung by the chimney (with care).
Christmas Eve was a time to relax.
Unless you were working.
Home for the holidays? Not everyone.
Police officers, firefighters, EMTs — all were on call, on duty, away from their families. For many who serve in Westport, those families live quite a ways away.
Doctors, nurses, technicians and orderlies were working too. And all those people employed in nursing homes.
Plus cooks, wait staff and dishwashers, at restaurants that offered a Christmas Eve meal.
Of course, clergy and church staff were on the clock as well.
Some of those same folks worked yesterday — Christmas — itself.
And it’s all repeated next Monday, on New Year’s Eve. (Except for the religious services.)
Of course, there will be more restaurants and bars open.
Those trains don’t run themselves.
Not to mention everyone working on Metro-North, for the revelers going to Times Square.
Trust me, the return trip is not one you sign up for.
So to all everyone who was on the job Christmas Eve, or Christmas day. And all those who will work New Year’s Eve:
Thanks for being there for us. We don’t always thank you — or even know who you are.
You’re all this week’s Unsung Heroes, for sure.