Covid, At Last . . . And Other Woes

In my January 3 post, I mentioned the possibility that life would throw more roadblocks in the way than I foresaw. Well, I didn’t have to wait long. My husband and I tested positive for Covid on January 10. Neither of us has been terribly sick, and I went on Paxlovid immediately (he takes too many other medications for that). Still, we crept around the house at about 50% capacity for a couple of days, then improved to 80%, and are now up to about 90%.

I haven’t been ill since before the pandemic hit four years ago. My only ailments in all this time have been reactions to vaccines. Those were bad, but only for a day or two.

I’d forgotten how being sick feels. That achy feeling. Fatigue. The general blahs and not wanting to do anything. In the past, I’ve been sicker than I’ve been with Covid, but this crud has still been a shock to my system. One afternoon, the idea of chopping a head of broccoli into florets felt like a monumental undertaking. So we had frozen Brussels sprouts (but see below about the microwave).

I figured my husband and I would get Covid eventually. Almost all my friends and relations have had it. Even though we’ve kept up with all our vaccines and boosters, I knew it would catch us at some point. The virus mutates faster than vaccines can be created, manufactured, and distributed. We are fortunate to have avoided Covid before vaccines were available, and I thank my lucky stars for that—I knew people who died from it.

What else am I grateful for?

• The kind pharmacy staff at our nearby Walgreen’s store. The clerk told me they were out of Paxlovid, but there was another store nearby that had it. I masked up, then got in my car to track it down (successfully).
• The ability to cancel most appointments and reschedule others. From barbers to doctors to personal trainers, I could push everything back a week or two without a problem. And I converted one doctor’s appointment to a video call, saving the commuting time.
• It’s been bitterly cold for the past several days, and Covid is a really good excuse to stay inside. I shoveled snow for an hour the day before I tested positive, but the snowfalls since then have not merited any effort.
• Safelite could still fill the ding in my windshield in my garage. All I had to do was open the garage door. No more personal contact than that required. Let’s hope the repair holds.
• My husband and I are both relatively healthy (well, if you leave out his Parkinson’s), and we can survive this. A friend is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for brain cancer. A little coughing and fatigue from Covid seems manageable by comparison.
• The enforced isolation at home. I was able to crank out a lot of administrative work, so I’m better prepared for tax season than most years (though not as well prepared as my dad was). I’ve cleaned out closets and balanced checking accounts. Somehow, my muddled head can manage this type of work, though creative work seems beyond me.

Still, there are things I’m not grateful for.

• My novel is stalled. Despite the relatively minor interference of Covid in our lives, I haven’t been able to focus on creative work. I suppose I could force myself, but I have no motivation to do so. Not when emptying the dryer and carrying the load of clean clothes forty feet across the house taxes my energy.
• Since I am the primary caregiver in the household, there is no one to bring me chicken soup. But I’ve felt well enough to scrounge meals from our well-stocked freezer. Soon, though, I will need to make a grocery run. Masked, of course.
• Our microwave decided to quit working a day or two before I tested positive for Covid. And when we were in isolation, I couldn’t shop for a new one. I don’t trust myself to buy one online and make sure I have the proper size, trim kit, etc. We have a second microwave in the basement (lower level), but that means we’ve been doing more running up and down stairs than usual.
• The frigid temperatures led to frozen water faucets. Trying to thaw the pipes with a hairdryer and a space heater blew a circuit in our house. This isn’t Covid-related, but is an added annoyance.

I will be glad when this spate of woes is over. Soon, I hope, my husband and I will feel better, the weather will warm, and once again, life will be rosy.

Have you had Covid? Was there anything about the experience you were grateful for?