Covid has reared its ugly head again at Shady Acres. Both Certain Man and I have caught it for the third time. Certain Man has not made out too badly, but I lost my sense of smell and taste and my head feels like it weighs at least 30 pounds, my ears are plugged, and I am just so tired! Thankfully, I’m not short of breath, but the congestion in my head certainly makes me feel like I am in a fog.
I went to bed last night feeling so grumpy and discouraged. I didn’t even kiss Certain Man good night because I just didn’t feel like it. He laughed at my reasoning, but promptly fell asleep and didn’t seem to0 be too offended. I could hardly think through the fuzziness in my brain, but I was pretty sure I was miserable. All of a sudden, I felt a sharp prick in the side of my leg like something bit me, and I absentmindedly moved my foot up to rub the spot. I knew nothing was biting me because I am accustomed to these sudden unexplained neuropathic twinges in my lower extremities.
But then I got to thinking about all the things I have for which to be thankful. For one thing, that twinge! I had no need to throw back the covers and look for a spider or an asp or a bitey bug. And I didn’t need to worry about Malaria-causing mosquitoes to be flying about my room. I didn’t need to light a candle or an oil lamp or primitive light source in the event that I did want to check it out. My bed was comfortable, and I wasn’t alone. My husband does not snore offensively. The fan was moving the air and making sleeping easier. It wasn’t long until I drifted off and I slept well.
This morning, the electric was off, the generator was running and I slept through it. I finally bestirred myself at 8:30 to discover that two neighbors had asked about the outage, my husband had been out working for literally hours, and that, even though I still couldn’t smell or taste, I wasn’t feeling quite so grumpy. I decided to comb my hair, wash my face, get dressed, make my bed and walk out to see what Certain Man was up to. He was washing down a manure spreader that he had borrowed from a neighbor, so I picked 4 or 5 ripe peas and checked on the garden, and suddenly felt very hot and tired. He said that he was going to come in and sit a spell, and that sounded pretty good to me. We came in, I made him breakfast and we both “sat for a spell.”
I’m not happy we got Covid, but I keep thinking about how this is probably the best timing for us to have it. We had houseguests from May 7-29th with a day off in between to change sheets, and it would not have been very fun to be sick while they were here, (although we didn’t have much interaction with the one couple). Besides, even if they didn’t care, we would have! And even though we missed some fun things (visits with friends and family scheduled for last week, the GMS school festival, a Yoder family gathering at the old home place, hymn sing at church) yet we did have time to rest, (still do!) and the potluck planned for “First Sunday” at our church got postponed a week because we aren’t the only ones who are sick in our congregation. How’s that for making people feel important?
The days have been nothing short of gorgeous. Cool, breezy, and colorful. Someone said, “It’s a shame to waste such pretty days on being sick!” Well, to be honest, these beautiful days are such a gift to me. I can go outside and sit on the upper deck, or lazily swing on the porch swing, or just sit in a lounge chair on the lower deck and the birds are singing, the Humming Birds are flitting about, there’s probably even a butterfly if I watch close, and I am content.
Below is the one view from our upper deck.
And here is a cheery hanging basket that my friend, Krista Sweigart gave me about a month ago. It convinced me to buy begonias for my deck rail planters!
I may be sick, but #myheartgivesgratefulpraise !
Delaware Grammy 