Friday, October 29th, 2021: When we awoke there was a frost on the grass in front of my house. On our way to the school bus, I slipped and fell backward hitting my head on the ground. I was fine but I knew my neck muscles would be sore in the morning.
Saturday, October 30th: I awoke with neck pain, as expected, and a headache. Later that day, I showed my wife that I did have a scrape on the back of my elbow from the fall. She said "that's not a scrape, that is a tick." She could see it better than I. She tried to get it out but couldn't so I went to Urgent Care in the town of Georgia, a few towns away. They removed the tick and gave me an antibiotic. While I was there I ask for a COVID test which I believe that is something we all should do if we are in a clinical setting. She gave a quick swab in each nostril. They told me they wouldn't call me unless you are positive. Before I went to bed I noticed a voice mail from the clinic. They wanted me to call them in the morning. They couldn't have the test results that fast could they?
Sunday, October 31st: The headache continued and neck pain. I couldn't call the clinic until 9am, so I waited to call. While I was waiting, playing on my PC, I read an email from my doctor with the subject "COVID" and the text: "Your test was positive. How are you!" Then the clinic called with the same message. The worse part of this was telling the seven year old that his Halloween was cancelled. My amazing wife figured out a way for him to trick or treat over Zoom. He got dressed and she reached out to a ton of people that he got to show his costume without leaving the house. They choose treats for him, either gummies or red hots. It was pouring rain anyway.
They left to get tested while I moved upstairs for the quarantine. I laid in bed the rest of the day watching movies and shows. My doctor suggested that I get tested again because he said it didn't sound right that no one in the house had any symptoms other than my headache which could be from the fall. I called the clinic and left a voice mail.
Monday, November 1st: I called in sick and informed two people at work of my situations. I still had a headache and neck pain so I cashed out most of the day. I watched "Dune," caught up on my HBO shows and then continued to rewatch "The Sopranos." This gets old quickly. I went for a short hike on my land. I received a call from the VT Department of Health for contact tracing. I informed how remote (aka hermitlike) my life is and she wasn't too concerned about me spreading anything. My date of reentry should be the 10th.
Tuesday, November 2nd: I had a scheduled holiday today, Election Day. I have one of those enlightened employers that gives us this day off regardless of whether it is an off year or not. I had a ton of appointments schedule today. One of them, ironically, the COVID booster which I may not need now. My back was really starting to hurt because there is no comfortable chair in my bedroom and the time in bed, at this point, was extensive. I decided today that I would go for a longer walk. No one was around at this time of day. I went off our land and hiked on my road and onto a town path, round trip three miles. It was nice. I saw no one on my hike other than two ladies in the distance. That marked the point where I turned around to avoid them. The exercise was exactly what I needed. Headache was almost gone at this point.
Wednesday, November 3rd: This morning we had the first snow of the season. I returned to work, remotely of course. I couldn't justify not working. I had no headache or neck pain. To save my back, I moved my office chair with the lumbar support and my small desk into the bedroom. I jumped right back into things. It felt good to be back.
Thursday, November 4th: Got up this morning and stepped in my workplace (about five feet away). Around 11am I received a notification that my test results were in. I log into the portal and saw that I was negative. I walk downstairs and hug the kid and the wife.
Whether the first test was wrong or they tested me at the end of an asymptomatic illness, I don't think we'll ever know. Regardless, if I was sick, I am enormously grateful for the vaccine because it probably would have killed me if I was not vaccinated. In general, my health is not great. All in all, the only inconvenience was the kid's Halloween was cancelled, he was angry with me and referred to me as the COVID monster for a few days and my wife had to wait on me, going up the stairs to deliver me food and coffee. For her I am forever grateful.
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