I have never purchased a lottery ticket. I told people that when I was ready to buy one, it would be the grand prize winner. They thought I was being cocky. I was, but I really felt I could time it right and win. Lately, I have been feeling lucky. Then the proverbial 2x4 hit me across the forehead.
Yes, I was late to the game on the whole COVID thing. After 30 months without showing symptoms, I figured I must be one of the lucky ones. I had my two vaccinations and was intending on getting the booster shots, but, for one reason or another, I just never got around to them. I guess I became a bit overconfident.
Then reality set in, and so did COVID. In my neck. In my back. In all my joints. Even in my teeth. I ached everywhere. Sweats. Fever. Chills. All the fun stuff. The worst part was the feeling that someone dropped a cement block on my chest. I took two COVID tests and showed positive with each one. Now, more than two weeks after the symptoms started, I still have the COVID cough and some recurring symptoms. But, for the most part, I am feeling fine.
I have certainly been sicker before, and I am sure I will again. I will get through this ordeal, much like many of you have. It is a reality of life now and something most of us will be dealing with every year. Hearing about Dr. Fauci being infected with COVID did not raise my confidence level.
Prior to this, I really thought I was one of the lucky ones. I had COVID-like symptoms and was quite sick during February of 2020 before most of us knew what COVID was. Could have been COVID. Could have been influenza. If it was COVID, the antibodies likely protected me from infection for a couple of years, but that doesn’t really matter now.
My feeling of invincibility to COVID reminded me of my chicken pox episode as a child. While all my grade school classmates and friends were infected with this, I wasn’t. Not a single pock, chill, fever, headache. Nothing. Then, in eighth grade, right before I was to step out on a wrestling mat to compete, I noticed a few red dots on my skin. I didn’t feel sick, and I assumed it was just teenage acne. Later that night, the spots multiplied, and the chills, fever and headaches came. Reality set in that day, too. Who gets chicken pox in eighth grade? Me, that’s who.
COVID, too. So much for being lucky. I think I will hold off on the lottery ticket for a while.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
