Summer Sticks Around and Covid Comes

The unofficial end of summer came and went, but the sun gods did not receive the memo. Persistent, oppressive heat remains in my corner of the world, placing a damper on my desire to attack outdoor activities.

I spent the Labor Day weekend in the Sunshine State on an exhaustive whirlwind of family activities, immediately followed by days in isolation with Covid 19. Contracting Covid was not on my bucket list.

The packed plane, mingling with dozens of people, spending most of the time indoors, I could have caught Covid anywhere from anyone. I dodged the disease up to this point, vaccinated and masked when prudent, but Covid finally found me.

On the flight home I felt a cold coming on – sniffles, drowsiness, headachy. It must be from all the activity and lack of sleep over the long weekend, I told myself…By morning, after a night’s snooze, I awoke feeling fatigued. But a terrific headache prevented additional sleep and refused to succumb to the usual over-the-counter remedies. 

I dragged myself to Urgent Care, where I sat in the waiting room masked and anxious, but only for a few minutes. I surmised the protocol is to examine COVID-19 patients and get them out the door as quickly as possible. Escorted to an exam room, a technician took the usual readings – temperature, blood pressure – and disappeared. Fortunately it was not long before a doctor breezed in, barely looked at me as he asked questions and filled out a chart, then handed me a pack of Paxlovid pills. “Stay inside and you can go out again by the weekend,” which I assume meant being with people again.

Back home, exhausted from the short car ride and clinic visit, I swallowed the first dose of pills, sunk into my couch, and fell asleep. For hours.

I remained cloistered in my air-conditioned home for the next few days. I canceled two lunch dates, one doctor’s visit, and a committee meeting. Luckily it was a light calendar week.

I did just about – nothing. Slept a lot, ate very little. I guess every cloud has a silver lining. I had no appetite. After a couple of days I turned on the TV and watched shows requiring minimal attention and mental exercise. My brain needed to temporarily relax.

I am gradually coming out of a brain fog and activity level near zero. The pills did their magic and recovery is imminent. However it will doubtless take a while for my energy level to return, and my aging body will need time to regain its nimble, flexible self (note: sarcasm and humor here).

Next week the temperature and humidity are supposed to drop. A new season begins, and I look forward to being healthy and strong enough to enjoy the events and pleasures of a busy, bountiful fall.