By Kathi Hill
Well, I can tell you one sure thing: COVID ain’t for sissies.
Whew!
My nuclear family had it all at the same time. For about five days, during the worst of it, our house sounded like the TB ward.
We all coughed, but there were other different symptoms for each of us. It got in my husband’s chest. That scared me, but it never got serious.
And I got laryngitis. I mean, I couldn’t speak, not even a whisper. For days. Me, Chatty Kathi.
Now, a month later, my voice still isn’t quite back to normal. Still can’t sing or yell or even talk for long periods of time.
All of our joints ached, but it also settled in my back. Right where it is injured and hurts all the time anyway.
If you’re listening, COVID, that was a cheap shot.
All of us had fatigue. I’ve heard people talk about how bad the fatigue is with COVID, but I had no idea. It’s not fatigue, it’s FATIGUE. I would lie down and not be aware of anything for hours on end. All three of us were that way. It was like the House of the Sleeping Zombies.
I wish we had stock in Kleenex. Because we went through FIVE boxes. I’ve never had a runny nose like I had. It was the king of runny noses. Multiply that by three and you see what I mean.
I called to let my brother know we had COVID. He said, “Well, I don’t know what the big fuss is about anymore. It’s not any worse than a cold.”
Guess who hasn’t had COVID.
My blood boiled just a little bit. I said, “No, it’s more like tonsillitis, otitis, sinusitis, bronchitis and a terrible headache all rolled into one.” That’s before the laryngitis hit. Good thing, too, or I wouldn’t have been able to tell him anything. I would have had to write a letter, and I think it would have lost a little bit of its fervor.
He said, “Oh.”
Yes, we all three had the immunization and booster. And yes, I know it’s not the terrible strain of COVID that was killing people left and right. And I thank God for it.
Yes, I know some people had the strain before this one and it was no worse than the common cold of which my rotten, clueless brother spake.
Not that I hold a grudge or anything.
Since Husband and I are retired, we didn’t miss anything major, such as work, like our daughter.
And worse than missing work, she didn’t get to see her feller.
Daughter missed several days of work. And even when she went back, she wasn’t exactly dancing in the streets. For the first few days she was one whipped puppy when she got home.
I did miss my mother’s 93rd birthday party, which was a bummer. But she understood.
So, what have I learned from this?
My family can be stuck in the house with each other only, and we can survive each other’s company without any meltdowns. (Probably because didn’t have the energy).
Having a cotton swab rammed up your nose to the top of your head is most annoying.
Having someone actually say, “You have tested positive for COVID” is a little scary.
You actually can lose 3 pounds in a week.
Coming out on the other side of being sick is a wonderful feeling.
Can I get an Amen?