Getting Hit with Covid

Getting Hit with Covid

I’ve tested positive. It was bound to happen, and yet, somehow it still caught me off guard. Even with two vaccinations and the follow up booster the virus managed to worm its way into my system. Blinding headache, but I’ve been getting migraines for over a year now, so thought this was some new horrible post menopausal progression that was the new normal. Took migraine meds.  Nothing.  Doubled the dose and finally had some relief. People who have chronic migraines talk about being in so much pain they’re nauseous and even vomit.  I stopped just short of that.  The feeling of exhaustion I attributed to my mother’s memorial service, losing her, missing her or some combination of all of the above.

But in the end, I’m a New Yorker.  We’ve been through some pretty horrendous times when it comes to covid so when there’s any sign of fatigue, sniffle, anything out of the ordinary, get tested.

Negative. Whew.  Dodged the bullet.  Again.

Then the feeling of being chilled, even though it was a beautiful spring day.  Sunny, in the 70’s.  We haven’t started using our air-conditioning yet. I check the thermostat.  75 degrees inside. I’m happiest when it’s 70 or maybe 71, so this was odd as normally I’d be warm. Decide to test myself again, just to be safe. And there they were, those dreaded two lines. Grab a mask, start texting everyone I’ve come in contact with, cancel any appointments that can be postponed.

Instinctively reach for my husband’s hand, sense his reluctance and draw back. Right. I’m a walking viral infected vessel for the foreseeable future.

Still I was able to conduct my Patron’s Ask Me Anything Zoom meeting. I did a demonstration of how, with photos, and in real time, I evaluate a piece, the things I look for to help me decide what my next step might be by looking at value, composition, mark making, etc to give me ideas and direction. I use lots of photographs and annotate them.  I even have one piece that isn’t quite right yet, this is a perfect example of what I’m talking about.

Afterwards another call, immediately after my Patron’s Zoom, but I’m still well enough and the distraction is nice.  Besides it’s always great to see other’s work evolve and take shape.

New meds, Paxlovid, are delivered, the young man delivering this new medication door to door is maskless. I restrain myself from scolding him. He’s a grown man, after all, surely he knows the risks.  He’s delivering medication to people with covid…. it’s impossible for me to understand the thinking. Everything’s political now, taking precedence over common sense and our collective well being. Still I worry about him. I fall asleep at 7:30 with his face in my mind.

It’s morning now, I’ve taken my 2nd dose of Paxlovid.  Am I any better?  Is it working?  Did I wait too long to start the medication?  Who knows.  I think I’m feeling a little better, maybe. I don’t know. It’s hard to say.

I go to gratitude.  Because this life is so fleeting and then we’re gone.  Laughter, kindness, random acts of care and thoughtfulness is always the way to go.  There’s so much pain and suffering out there, am I part of the problem or part of the solution?  These are my go-to thoughts, especially when I don’t feel great.

My brutal, brutal migraines are Covid and not the new norm. Yay!

I was able to get this new medicine quickly from our GP (who also has Covid). We compared notes on symptoms and next course of action.

My husband, who is recovering from surgery is testing negative.  So far so good.

My children are both negative.

I’m upright and able to type this and even maybe have put a few coherent sentences together.

It could be so much worse.

Thinking of all of you and hoping you are safe and well.