THE UNTOLD COVID ADVENTURE

Nobody wants it. We're all going to get it. I got it last week. I didn't like it. But, it was an extremely fascinating journey.

Since I have allergic asthma and there were huge windstorms in Palm Springs, I thought it was one of those attacks. I called my doctor right away and got steroids so the allergy attack wouldn't go into my lungs and give me pneumonia--I've had that happen three times.

OK. A bit of sneezing, drippy nose, and cough. Same old allergies...... but...NO!

Could it be? Did it finally get me?

I tested positive. I didn't get scared. It was my turn.

You take paxlovid right away and those symptoms go away very nicely. You're happy. You think--I dodged a bullet, and nothing's in my chest. Nice days go by.

And, then you crash to the floor emotionally. Nothing in your body works. It's hard to lift your arms. Hard to walk. You can't make your bed. You can lift a fork to your mouth, and God bless Mary Yahnke and Gay Aguilera for keeping me fed, and my other friends who called every day and understood I couldn't return their calls.

My brain became "less than adequate." I could only watch franchise one-hour cop or medical shows. I could not follow the plots of fascinating movies. Sit-com dialogue was shouted and painful. I hate sit-coms anyway, Covid or not.

Music worked, but it had to be classical and low. I couldn't read anything of real substance. To my surprise, I read Paul Newman's autobiography in three hours. I could comprehend its style. It's very good, by the way.

But, let's go back to the emotional. That's what people don't talk about. You lie around your world unable to function well. Your mind wanders. Is this what it will be like when I start to die? Did I do what I wanted to do? Who are my real friends?

Do I really like so-and-so as much as I think? Where is my time better spent for me? Who puts my welfare equal to theirs? Who really loves me?

Did my parents feel this helpless when they were actually dying? My parents. I wanted to talk to them. I felt like a little girl. I needed help. I was crying at commercials.

My faith in God is what got me through. I have absolute trust in Him to take care of me. Whatever is happening is for a reason. I may not understand it, but I accept it.

These moments in our lives exist for us to learn. Truthfully, the best way to get through Covid is to be brave. Don't hide your fears. Don't bury yourselves in "Real Housewives." 

Feel what you feel. Whatever it is. Covid is an opportunity to re-design your life 100% for you.

Don't waste the opportunity. It's one of the best things that has ever happened to me.