Sick at my second home

It is hard to have a positive outlook when you have tested positive for COVID. 

Even though I am sick with this virus I am so very fortunate to be with my sister and in my apartment at her house. She spent most of Wednesday trying to make me comfortable and getting what I need to recover. My niece also helped.

I began feeling sick on Monday of this week but drove down to Roswell as I had planned. I went to Urgent Care on Tuesday to see if I had contracted this illness and was shocked when I was told I definitely had COVID. I felt like I had the flu.

No one could have tried harder or been more careful to follow the guidelines of the CDC, but somehow on Friday of last week, I evidently came in contact with someone and was exposed to this sickness. For two years, I have been self-isolating, social- distancing, and wearing a mask when out in public.

I was told by friends who live in the mountains near me that I was better off staying away from there as the surge had hit. But I don't think I was exposed to it there because I was in Roswell, GA on Friday.

Yesterday I felt bad and was short of breath, but today I am feeling better. I am so glad I am vaccinated and had my booster shot. I hope the worst is over and that Gay and Stu don't get it. 

So, the positive thing about all this is I am here and being cared for by my loving family. I was told by my doctor's office to rest, do nothing at all, just rest and stay hydrated. That would have been difficult if I were home alone. 

So, I have much to be thankful for and a year to look forward to. I am making plans and I hope you are, also. This scourge will end and our country will come together to save our democracy. Once the pandemic is under control, the entire world will settle down and we can stop fearing the future. 

Read Roger Carlton's article on the coming year.

WELCOME NEWS AND FURTHER SEARCHES

Barry and me -- in front of the view seen from the Clarke's deck. Lucky Linda and Dick - two wonderful friends.

Do you know how hard it is to stay positive when everything around you seems to be soooo negative? If you have waited for a doctor's report on a mammogram or ex-ray or biopsy, you know the way your heart seizes up and you wonder if it will ever go back to its ka-thump, ka-thump sound you've always known. The waiting is the worst. Once you know the diagnosis, even if it is bad, you can go on, make plans, do something.

But waiting for days and weeks while symptoms grow worse and your faith falters; well, that takes a huge toll on your emotions and even your physical health.

On Thursday my sweet husband spent a grueling day riding hours in the back seat of a car in order to spend three hours or more in a hospital getting a PET/CT scan to see if he was free of cancer. While I tried to keep my mind occupied, keep a pleasant face for him while he groaned in pain from his swollen leg, the tears and the anxiety hovered just under his radar.

Today we received the report - No Lymphoma in his body. What a relief. I wanted to shout and celebrate, but first I gave thanks. The Big C is a death sentence in the minds of most people. This report could have gone either way, but it went the right way and now I can sleep a little better. But we are not free of fear just yet. Now we head for Atlanta to see yet another doctor who, we hope, can find the reason for the extreme pain BB endures.

Tonight I am also thankful for pain meds that give BB peace and sleep for the first time in many weeks.

Isn't life an adventure? We never know what we might face before the next dawn lightens our world. We might be rewarded with the best ever words or we might be knocked to our knees with terrible news. But we do know, as human beings, we will process the event, decide on a path, and continue on with life. That is just what we do.

Barry and me at a south western party in the eighties.