A Gift For Christmas

I have post-nasal drip. I’ve had it for ages, especially in the cold weather. It’s not that interesting, I know, but I do have a point to make.

Last week I had a busy schedule – lunch with friends, a book club meeting, coffee with other friends, and a physio appointment for my achy neck. I took my kleenex and went to every one of them.

By late Thursday my post-nasal drip was joined by a mild headache and a low fever. I suddenly had a terrible thought. What if it was Something Else? I scrambled through the bathroom cupboards for our supply of rectangular green boxes. You know the boxes I mean, right? The ones with the tubes, and the solution, and the LONG stick?

It took me a while to remember all the steps and set up the experimental station. I took my time, knowing what was ahead. Finally I was ready for The Stick. I hate The Stick – it tickles until it hurts. But you want to get a good sample – there’s no way you want to do it again until absolutely necessary.

As you may have already guessed, the little red line emerged and went straight to the top, joined by another line at the bottom. I was positive. Not good news. Not for me or for all those people I had unknowingly socialized with all week. Then Peter, who had had a runny nose for a couple of days, decided to take the test too. Also Positive. I tidied up my experimental station and began to make phone calls – apologizing to the people we might have already infected and, explaining to the people with upcoming events that we couldn’t attend.

Fortunately Peter and I have had 7 vaccines, including the updated Pfizer BioNTech which we got just 6 weeks ago. So we have had only mild symptoms: a slight cough and the post-nasal drip which was not. We’ve had a chance to catch up on Christmas chores like writing cards and decorating the tree. We’ve also used our germs as an excuse for extra nap time! Peter tested negative yesterday, and I will do the test this morning, when I get up the courage to face The Stick.

This Christmas is a HUGE improvement from the Christmas of 2020. Remember how we were afraid to send out greeting cards in case COVID germs stuck to the envelopes when we licked them? Or our trips to the grocery store for Christmas dinner; wearing a mask and gloves, going at 8:00 am to avoid crowds, and scrubbing our potatoes and carrots with hot soapy water when we got home? Or our visits with family: dropping by for 10 minutes, standing in a freezing-cold garage, social distancing with air-kisses?

Thanks to science and the millions of people who have taken the time to get vaccinated, this Christmas is Much better. We know the drill by heart: washing hands, wearing masks in crowded public places, and getting out the little green box when post-nasal drip appears. Any extras? Socking-stuffers with a purpose!

Sue