Well, I guess I’ll be blogging regularly and frequently this week.
My doctor has told me to self isolate, and Maria has told me to self-isolate, and I have agreed to self isolate after developing a symptom of Covid-19.
I think this is a necessary but surprising caution, I’ve had recurring issues with some medication taken after my last surgery, and I am certain that’s what the tests I am getting will show.
I need to get a Covid-19 test over the weekend.
I was in Saratoga several times in the past week, and the Covid-19 numbers there are rising through the roof, my doctor and a nurse in my doctor’s office said I need to be careful.
I have at least one serious symptom of the coronavirus, and possibly two, so I need to take it seriously and not risk infecting anyone else or harming myself.
From what I know of Covid-19, I don’t have it. But it is possible, however remote.
As the nurse said, the world is turning upside down Covid-19 wise, and in places, I have been, although always masked.
My temperature has been taken almost daily and is normal, and I had blood work done a couple of days ago.
I don’t write this to alarm anybody, but I do feel the need to share it. This week, I will be writing daily, of course, and I hope to focus somewhat on the 400,000 souls who have died of this disease.
Much of the country has trouble focusing on them, given the news and all the lying. I don’t want to be guilty of that.
I believe in justice, and I believe Donald Trump will be, for once, accountable for what he is done. That’s up to God, not me.
I took a moment today to think about Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and the four other people who died during the terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol building.
I fought this suggestion of isolating, it seemed extreme to me, but Sue Silverstein, Maria, and my doctor teamed up and persuaded me quickly to shut up and do what’s smart and safe.
I always think these things happen to other people, not me, caused by hubris and my years as a reporter, where all the big stuff was happening to other people, and I watched it and wrote about it.
This kind of thing almost makes me appreciate who I am and what I have.
I’m on board with being isolated. Once I realized this is for other people as much as for me, I stopped grumbling and remembered my gratitude necklace. Meditation tonight
I am often inclined to being stupid and obstinate, but I usually come through it at some point. Iron headed people best surround themselves with honest people who fight for what they believe. Maria has saved my hide more than once.
Sue and Maria often team up when I need to get something foolish into my head. They are potent.
Maria also pointed out that I seemed pale and exhausted for much of this week; it seems I might have some virus, but most likely, not the coronavirus.
I have been told to self-isolate, to stay inside for at least 8 to 10 days, and after I take a Covid test at the hospital. After I was told this, I slept for three or four hours, which persuaded me I’m not quite healthy.
Maria is a secondary infectant, she was asked to isolate as much as she can, she should avoid contact with other people as much as possible. We had an impromptu meeting to talk through how we can handle this together.
She can have contact with me; if I got it, she has it.
Lucky you, I get to write even more. Zinnia has already taken up her position as therapy/companion dog, snoring and sneezing and resting her head on my feet.
I am nothing but lucky.
Not a bad place to isolate:) Surrounded by Maria, your animals, trees, the sky, beauty, books, your writing, blog and your readers who love and care about you. Healing, Love, and Light to you Jon. Looking forward to your writing:) Love, Janet
Yes, self-isolating is actually not for you at all–it’s entirely for other people, and anyone who doesn’t do it is a thoughtless jerk. Glad to hear you’re not one of those and I hope you feel better soon!
Get well soon!
Get better. You are right, if you have it Maria has it. Wishing you well.
Take good care! Thank you for isolating and continuing to share your writing even while in quarantine, I will send up prayers.
You and Maria are very much in my prayers and I hope you don’t have it. It’s so important to quarantine and I thank you both. Yes, please write more of this chaos and of the peace you and Maria share there. Thank you.
Hi Jon,
I thought you’ve looked a little pale since you had your last surgery, but probably “normal” since your body is busy recovering I imagine. You’ve been through a lot this past year. Glad you’re listening to your closest peeps and advocates and taking it easier…better to be safe than sorry. Wishing you a speedy recovery! 🙂
I can’t count the number of times one of my feet has either gone numb or cramped up because I didn’t want to disturb the dog that was using my foot as a pillow. Keep well, Jon, and blog away. Your isolation is a bonus for us readers ?
Oh no Jon…
I’m relieved you’re onboard with the COVID advice you’re getting. While seniors as a group are more prone to serious effects, there’s no accounting for any single outcome – each individual could be affected differently. We just don’t know enough.
Arizona is aflame – highest in daily new cases per capita. And yesterday, we had more new cases than vaccinations. For now, our household’s outside errands are limited to getting the mail, walking the dog, and weekly grocery shopping. THAT’S IT until the holiday travel effects subside. That could begin around mid-late January. But the new strain could change things.
Without interventions from vaccines or mitigation, COVID’s spread is cold and methodical – the virus adheres to the mathematics of increasingly rapid growth. It’s surprising how predictable its growth becomes once an outbreak has been ignited.
It’s also surprising how ignorant and obstinate humans can be in the face of sound advice. People seem to confuse freedom with good sense.
Glad to hear you’re being pro-active about this. Its scary stuff for those in our age group.
The Army will be pulling for you. Good luck.
Strange times these days, Jon. I look forward to even more of your writing!
Jon, I think you will find Maria a fierce protector of her husband…that is you…so better mind what she says and behave yourself. I loved your so human comment: ” I always think these things happen to other people, not me, caused by hubris and my years as a reporter, where all the big stuff was happening to other people, and I watched it and wrote about it.” Jon, I may write and have my writing published but I sure am not a reporter and I think the first part of your sentence is correct….I always think these things happen to other people not me. That is exactly how I felt about aging. I’m 83 now and I don’t know who that old woman is looking back at me in the mirror. People say, you’re not 83…right…well, I thought getting old was for other people not for me. Crazy. How did I think I was going to age. The mind makes us blind where we want to be blind.
I hope your test proves negative. We all do. These are scary times.
And as to the death of the police officer on Wednesday, if the govt. does not do something in regard to what happened to Congress, to acknowledge the open murder of this individual, murder it was, being deliberately his on his head, till he died….what is justice for? The government will loose face unless they do something about the actions of the people who, in the name of staking their right to independence on killing others.
Sandy Proudfoot
Correction, HIT on his head…
SandyP
Get well soon. Keep listening to Maria. I know you will. I’m so glad that you have Maria and Zinnia to help you heal.
I self isolated for 2 weeks after some “I don’t believe in masking” delivered my new used washing machine RIGHT AFTER going to their large family thanksgiving at grandma’s. they never came out of the garage and I didn’t go in there. But I REFUSE to be a vector if I can help it. Appreciate your not only doing this, but publicizing it, and why. I bet people will want to hear how you are managing the various logistics.
Jon, please take care of yourself in isolation. We are among the ones most vulnerable to the virus and COVID-19. As the experts at WHO and other medical and epidemiological experts are telling us, vaccines are not the answer. In order for them to be effective, we ALL must wash hands, wear masks and keep socially distanced from others. If only we could convince Trump’s supporters to do that! Imagine the spreading his felons did at the U.S. Capitol on 1/06/21, and the spreading other people did over Christmas.