SOLTuesday: Bird Poop

Yesterday I was sitting alongside Riverside Park reading a book. What looked like a thin green leaf fell onto a page, and I brushed it aside. Only it wasn’t a leaf. It smeared green bird poop across the page and onto my finger. Yuck!!! I wiped off my finger and the page, continued reading for another six pages, then thought, I should go home and wash this finger. Thoroughly. Twice. And then rubbed hand sanitizer on it. I hope nothing toxic seeped into my skin in the five or so minutes before I washed it clean. Has anything like this ever happened to you?

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It’s Slice of Life Tuesday over at Two Writing Teachers. Check out this encouraging and enthusiastic writing community and their slices of life every Tuesday. And add one of your own.

 

Covid Blues

Covid has struck.

It took four years, almost to the day, after lockdown,

before Covid invaded my body and settled in.

I thought my O-neg. blood type protected me.

I was Covid cautious, wearing a mask outdoors,

wearing a mask indoors among strangers.

I took every booster, and none of them caused a problem.

But one night I felt so tired it was worth recording

in my journal. I thought the hit of sugar from a piece

of pie I ate late was to blame.

Next morning I had a sore throat (common symptom),

fever (common symptom), cough (common symptom),

fatigue (common symptom).

At-home Covid rapid test said “positive.”

I’ve taken multiple Covid tests over the past four years,

and this was the first positive one.

This is a positive no one wants.

My doctor said to take Paxlovid.

I need a special, kidney-friendly Paxlovid, 

which was hard to find and to be delivered.

My usual pharmacy no longer carries any Paxlovid.

Eventually, I got it, started taking the two pills

twice a day.

It stopped the common Covid symptoms,

but it caused diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

I could still taste and smell, but more than two bites

of food made me feel like a stuffed goose.

I lost five pounds I don’t need to lose.

It’s been two weeks since Covid took over my body.

It wears me out, makes me want to sleep all day.

Covid doesn’t want to leave.

I keep testing positive.

I want to be positive, but not Covid positive.

Covid, begone!