Just when I was beginning to relax.
Tuesday: (scraping paint) "I should be wearing a mask. This paint is making my throat scratchy."
Wednesday: (65 mile ride) "Why am I struggling? Why am I so thirsty? My throat's still sore. Why don't I want to ride? How many more miles?"
Thursday: (someone catch my nose- it's running and I can't move.) "Should I test? This can't be Covid. I JUST got the bivalent vaccine. I don't want to test. (I don't want to know). I cancel the day's plans. I have to test.
Also Thursday- test is positive.
OH MY WORD what else will the world throw at me? I stay in bed for 2 days, chugging fluid anytime my eyes are open. I catch up on Grey's Anatomy. Greg makes me a world class grilled cheese sandwich when I finally feel like eating.
Saturday: I begin to feel human again. Except for the existential dread that follows me like a cloud. Will I be well enough to ride? Will they let me? I look through my ACA material- they have a very serious and official sounding message about how if you are isolated they "won't be able to welcome you to the ride." PS you need to contact them AS SOON AS YOU KNOW there's an issue. I reluctantly send an email to Tammi aprising her of my sorrowful situation. She answers quickly that she has sent it to the main office where they will make a decision. She hopes to be back to me shortly. But it's Saturday so shortly really means Monday.
Sunday: I visibly age as I wait and worry. I check the insurance policy and yes, I can get all my money back. I begin to think maybe this is for the best. I could have a rebound case and infect everyone. I could be weak and not be able to complete the ride. I'm not sure I really want to do this anyway. I am swirling the drain.
Monday: Check email obsessively and curse the fact that the main office is on Mountain Time, 2 hrs behind us which gives me a head start on my obsessing. I wander through Hannaford (I have tested negative at this point but am duly wearing my mask) hoping I am buying what's on my list and not just oreos and wine. I decide to call when I get home.
Also Monday: One call is all it takes. Melinda answers the phone and calmly tells me they've talked about it, consulted the CDC isolation calculator, and I am good to go, as day 10 is the day before we have our first meeting. She does not seem concerned at all, so long as I am fever free without any drugs for 24 hrs. I thank her, hang up, and walk out to the kitchen where I burst into tears before I can tell Greg that all is good. He's grown used to my mood swings and takes it all in stride.
I CAN GO!!!
Wow. I never saw this post. I missed posts. I can't believe you started with this challenge....the start of many. So glad things worked out and that you are healthy. Debbie
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