Okay, first confession - I cannot shove that prickly little stick up my nose to my ear for any love or money, so this is undiagnosed. However, if this ain't it - holy moly.

My Mom had it too, but a lighter case, since she has had a total of four shots. I have only had 2.5 shots, and I am not permitted to get another because I am "too young". Oh har dee har har.

Starting Thursday, first day back, I had a shower, made coffee and new cereal mush, and let the plumber in to fix a leaking toilet. By the time he left[1], I was shuddering with cold and a little woozy in the brain. Went to bed before six. Slept and slept and slept, missed some meds, kept up my CPAP (so proud). Got up at 2 or 3 daytime, absolutely soooo thirsty. Our local bog water tasted ambrosial. Had some cereal and meds (need food for some of the meds). Had shuddering chills, went to bed again, catching more meds, slept and slept and slept, and woke up at noon drenched - yay breaking the fever. Yes I have a thermometer, no it doesn't have any batteries (I have since bought a VICKS version that uses triple As, of which I have lots). I think I may not remember a day or two's activities which were mostly aching and shivering.

Then we began the progression through the nostrils etc. So much dripping. Not a dry cough, just a sticky cough that requires me to beat on my chest to budge the blob (ew). Even though I changed to my full mask CPAP for this part of the journey, I couldn't bring myself to put it on. So much dripping and congestion and gobbing[2] and yuck. No. Also, as one would expect, I am feeling a little challenged in the breathing department, so that would just make me feel like I was being suffocated. It doesn't matter whether it is true or not: feelings is feelings. And the sneezing. The last desperate effort of a virus to seek out new victims when there is only me here. Fifty yard sneeze: I win.

Now, Wednesday, I have more energy, but just enough so that I can do the things to prepare to do the big thing, but not enough to then do the big thing.

I am also having some other small issues that are small potatoes, but dear heaven, they. are. so. annoying.

At the rate this is progressing, I expect to have charming symptoms for another seven days - the full set.

I did miss one of the wet food dish outs for the girls, and they went from "yay, you're back" to "who are you, you fake" very quickly. Suzi wanted/s to sleep *on* me all the time, which means on my chest or face, and we are having ongoing negotiations ...

Yes. I went to a family reunion and I hugged everything for a hundred yard radius - both hello and goodbye. I did not wear a mask. I'm surprised I remembered to use my napkin after my meal.

Don't do it, people. The dreamers are out there saying that COVID is over. No it is not.


[1] - I did wear a mask and stay away from him, but by then I was too sick to think in a thoughtful manner. He was quick, I must say. Don't blame him.

[2] - so like *why* can't I just take the gob and blob it into the vial with the fancy solution? Eh?

Cris was 73.

I was misled because her husband looks to be in his late 50's and still working. Her obituary refers to him as her "beloved husband" so I suspect they were a later match that just worked in spite of it all.

Cris was the same age Lorne would have been. Too young. Or too early, if you object to young.

Also Moderna.

Now for two to three weeks to pass, and then I should be as COVID-19 proof as it is possible to be.

... I have read in this most heartbreaking of years, is about the recent wedding in Maine that led to an outbreak of 20 plus people including two deaths.

The heartbreaking part is that the two people who died did not attend the wedding.