Beth's COVID Experiences - so I don't forget!

Beth’s Covid Experiences So Far…..

Covid19 came out of nowhere early in 2020 and stayed.  We thought it was a 
passing fad and would fade out, but no, we still have the nasty bugger.  Now it’s the end of June and we still have it and it’s worse than ever.  We are sheltering in place as much as possible and wearing masks everywhere.  Update on July – cases are spiraling out of control we don’t know where this ends!

I started off the year with a bang by getting a squamous cell sarcoma on my forehead. I had to have MOHS to remove the cancerous tissue layer by layer and luckily I only had to endure one round.  Somehow I managed to squeeze my back surgery in on February 14, 2020 just before everything was locked down tight and that was a blessing because I was really hurting.  I had 3 epidurals before I had had enough and consented to surgery. The bilateral microdiscectomy surgery went well but St. John’s isn’t my favorite hospital because you know I have so much experience being an inpatient – NOT!   I have to do PT with a mask on and not get near anyone but my therapist.  They check my temperature every day – the new normal.

On March 23, 2020 I was immediately furloughed and relegated to work from home designing web pages without access to network files. Half of the support staff was furloughed and the brokers were not allowed in the office.  I am not an efficient work from home worker – nope too many distractions and not close to files I need.

I was restless and began cleaning closets and underneath sinks.  I ordered window coverings for the boys room and Allie’s.  All of Nathan’s instruments, well most, went on the top of Allie’s closet.  I made a huge batch of Strawberry Jalapeno Recovery Jam.  And I knitted so many hats I have lost track.  Frozen hats for my little girls and one for a terminally ill 4 year old with a brain tumor.  I certainly wasn’t bored.  I also created a family website for all things Wickstrum and Stovall and included my web design, Lost Arrow Studios, Ojai Treks, Friendship Hats, Vegan Inspirations and Jam Creations.

Weirdly we found a house we loved in Humboldt and decided to see if we could broker a deal right during COVID.  Lending went sideways and it took a lot of effort.  Our financial specialist was freaked out!  We finally settled on an offering price and meandered our way through lending.  It was an ordeal with many offers, counter offers and letters to the owners of the property.  I turned into a BROKER!  Eventually we bought ourselves a house without even looking at it in person.  I know go figure, but it was COVID and uncharted waters.

While navigating the buying and lending process I had to have knee surgery.  Hospitals would only take life endangering operations so I had my surgery at a surgery center.  Again I had to go to PT, taking my temp every day and wearing a mask.  Update – and I’m still going…..

Steve built a raised bed for my vegetables since it’s hard for me to bend now and we got that planted pronto.  I’m hoping the squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and rats and whatever stay the freaking hell out of it but we shall see.  July Update – the rabbits hopped right up the 4 foot high siding and ate all the leaves off of the peppers, parsley and zucchini.  Such is life in the country. I got a really bad UTI out of the blue and had to deal with that debacle.  I’ve been through a lot time to move it on.

I miss having lunch with my friends, going to work, having a purpose and exercising.  I’m not sure when the gym will open again.  We all looked like shaggy dogs so I called up my saloon person Chole and she came and gave haircuts to five of my friends in my driveway.  Everyone lounged in the front yard chatting away and really enjoying the company – ya ya six feet apart.  Chole wore a mask at all times.

Ventura County was reporting 12-20+/- cases a day until the middle of June now we are spiking.  It’s a quandary.  We finally got to Humboldt and visited our “house” in Mckinleyville.  The house is wonderful and even better and more inviting than the pictures we viewed on the internet.  Allie said she felt at home the first time she toured the house and she sensed it was an “us” house.  We love the house and the property.

We have been moving the kids in for the last 10 days and are exhausted and ready to go back to Ojai.  BUT the COVID cases are so high and Jordan just got off the plane from Ohio.  Man it’s so complicated.  He got tested today so we will know the results soon.

This whole debacle really puts you between a rock and a hard place with your friends and the people you love.  Any and everyone can be a carrier or have picked it up innocently – you never know!  You have to treat everyone like they might have the freaking thing and it’s a horrible way to live.  I want it gone.  It’s like the Scarlet Letter do you have a C on your forehead?

Tomorrow we head back to Ojai in the spike zone.  Back to sticking to the house except for PT and doctors appointments – oh joy.  Try to do tech support when you can’t visit clients either because you might be a carrier or they might be one.  No theater or symphony, Disneyland is closed, museums and all sporting events.  We are in the no culture zone.  Someday I will be able to tell my grandchildren “remember when we lived thru COVID and Black Lives Matter” just like my parents went through the Great Depression.  No doubt it will change us, how we educate our children and socializing.  I’m not sure how this all ends.  I really hope something good comes of the election because I’m a COVID and BLM survivor.  Hey this could be a good shirt idea!

C  Crappy
O  Obnoxious
V  Virus
I    In
D  Our Democracy