C'est la Vie by Jennifer Babcock for November 01, 2023

Being less than social helps

I’ve never had it either

Some people have had it without knowing – for the overwhelming majority it’s just a mild cold. For me it was less than three days in March of 2020, and I didn’t even think it was anything other than soreness from spending a lot of time outdoors doing some heavy physical work several days out of the week before. The only odd thing was stuff tasting funny. After the common symptoms were announced on the news a couple days later it was “oh, so that’s what that was.” Rest, Advil, hot tea, and that was that.

It’s a rough neighborhood. It hasn’t fought its way through my chronic pansinusitis.

I haven’t had it.

After three years of avoiding theaters (except once), restaurants (except once when empty), barbershops, all but two social get-togethers, many shops still, long travel, most events, and after five shots apiece and constant masking, we still got it this May. Mine supermild despite obesity, his not so. But what still really scares us is Long Covid and the incredible health risks from it (brain! heart! lungs!), so we’re still being super cautious. My husband says “I just don’t see an off-ramp for when it’ll be safe enough to stop masking, start traveling, go to movies, eat in restaurants…” – each time just when we thought it might, along came Delta…then Omicron, then this new BA5 thing…. Argh.

She is like a god, imaginary.

We got us a goddess!

Got my double barreled shots of this year’s flu/covid vaccines yesterday.

I’m pretty sure I haven’t. I haven’t had a cold since before COVID. Being old and not having to leave the house as often helps. Also wearing masks.

Between you and me, Monsieur Smokey, we already know that Mona is a god, even with a tissue stuck up her nose….