Well, the coronavirus finally hit home.
On Christmas day, no less.
It appears to be the gift of 2020 that keeps on giving.
Our adventure began last Wednesday night. My two sons, my daughter-in-law, and I had a hankering for some ice cream and we decided to visit Creamistry, a new ice cream shop in town.
Creamistry is one of those “experience” ice cream shops where you order your ice cream and then watch them mix it up, stick it in a big metal bowl, and then blast it with -321 degrees F of liquid nitrogen.
Puffs of cold smoke waft through the room and then…viola…some of the creamiest, richest ice cream you have ever tasted is scooped into your cup. It makes Blue Bell taste like ice milk.
The only problem is that it is a little on the pricey side since you are paying for the experience, the big tanks of liquid nitrogen, the puffs of cold smoke, and the hazardous training of the workers…in addition to the cost of your cream and sugar.
Looking at the bright, shiny menu display, I quickly did the math and realized that a large cup at $9 gave you as much ice cream as two small cups at $6 a piece.
Since I was buying, I determined that splitting two large cups would be the better deal…so that is what we did.
My son and daughter-in-law split a Cookie Monster.
And I and my other son split a Sea Salt Caramel Crunch.
Two spoons. One large bowl. And a fight over the last few bites.
The next day (Christmas Eve) my son started feeling bad…headache…fatigue…slight fever.
On Christmas Day, he felt worse.
His symptoms had some of the marks of COVID so I looked up Urgent Cares in the area (who would know that so many of them would be open on Christmas) and made him an appointment. One rapid test later, a nurse with Christmas garb and an Elf shirt confirmed that he had COVID.
It was the strangest Christmas gift that my son ever received.
Immediately I realized that “exposed” was too small a word for my own chances of getting COVID. The taste of cream and caramel were still fresh in my mind and in my mouth. It was hard to doubt that our bowl of creamy caramel crunch probably included another topping I didn’t pay for or particularly want. A heaping helping of spiky coronavirus.
Yesterday that realization was confirmed as I tested positive for COVID as well.
So far I feel okay. Some aches in my joints…slight congestion…a little light-headedness…a bad taste in my mouth…and a general “blah” feeling. To be honest, it is hard to tell what is COVID and what are allergies or simply old age.
No real fever…though I normally read in the 97’s or low 98’s and my latest reading was 98.8.
I am not sure if the worse is yet to come or not.
My son is feeling much better so that at least gives me hope that our particular strain may not be quite as severe.
That is a mere hope not a medical evaluation.
I am loading up on Vitamin C, D, and zinc. Drinking my morning fruit smoothie. Staying isolated as much as possible. And praying that all of this passes soon and doesn’t negatively impact anyone else in my family.
The worst part about it at this point is that our family trip to see my parents and siblings was effectively canceled. Thankfully I didn’t carry COVID to them…but, like many things this year, it is another unwanted interruption that makes you want to wish 2020 away and get back to some sense of normalcy again.
All of this has given me time to reflect again. Think. Write. Process.
2020 has been a stinker of a year in many ways. A pandemic. Shutdowns. Division. Anger. Riots. Political angst. Isolation. Anxiety. Depression. Uncertainty.
But it has also been a year that has clarified some things in my own life.
God is still on His throne and I can trust Him.
My hope is in Jesus Christ and not in this world.
Life is fragile and every moment is precious.
Relationships are vital and have to be maintained in every way possible.
Stress impacts people differently and thus compassion and understanding are musts.
Wisdom requires walking the fine line between fear and recklessness, physical safety and emotional health, socially isolating yourself and living your life in freedom.
Technology is both a gift and a curse.
People are more important than politics.
Love is stronger than anger.
Death is a reality and none of us can avoid it.
Eternal life is the greater reality and all of us can experience it in Jesus Christ.
And COVID can take away a lot of things but it can’t take away the joy of being in Christ, being forgiven, being loved, being secure, and being part of something bigger than myself.
Nothing in life is sweeter.
Not even a large scoop of creamy Caramel Crunch ice cream.
Though next time I will pay the extra $3 for my own bowl.
Prayers forcyou and your Family. Thank you for sharing this.
So sorry!! Wow. You made it all year. That’s what we’ve been saying. But there’s still some 2020 left…..
Hope and pray no one else gets it. Take care!!!
Praying for all of you.
Great reflections on 2020. Praying for your family’s good health. Chet and I spent Christmas with our family in NJ. We moved to Fl about two months ago. We left in a hurry today bc our granddaughter was not feeling well. We are praying that she is better soon and that she has not shared her “gift of 2020” with us. Your thoughts about family are so well expressed. Family is so important. Being with them for so many days has filled up my cup full of love. Emotionally we are love filled. It is a fine line between fear and caution. Thanks for confirming my thoughts exactly. Be well – we will be praying for your family.
So sorry that you and yours have Covid. I ask the Lord to heal you quickly and that experience the piece of God in the very hard days.
I started having symptoms on Wed Dec 23rd. Concluded it was a sinus infection. Then spent the next two days around all my kids and grandkids. By Dec 27th I knew something was up, got tested, was positive. I’m posting this from the Lake where I just had an outpatient infusion of monoclonal antibodies (for special ppl over 55 who have stuff like I do-asthma, etc. The goal is to keep ppl like me out of the hospital. I got here at 12:30. The Lake is swamped. I get to go home soon!
So sorry pastor Steve. We are praying for you all. For Hods healing grace and mercy.
Wow!
Quite a story and some great observations.
You are a terrific writer and deprive us by not writing more–where is that next book.
My neighbor has had C-19 twice–last time in the hospital for 3 weeks and still recovering. My cousin’s 102 year old mother-in-law easily survived it.
Death isn’t to be feared. It’s the transition we would like to avoid. The blessing is “Absent the body, present with the Lord.” How great is that?
COVID is a tough price to pay even for some “out of this world” ice-cream.
Make the most of the time you are having with your family and the time you’re getting to spend (in isolation) with our Creator.
Thank God ya’ll had mild cases. Praise the Lord!