Going Gray

Our Blindsided Fight to Remember

Shelley

Mr. and I jumped into the fighting ring this past week. Don’t ya worry, we’re both on the winning side now. That’s happy news for us, at least. How did we get into the fighting ring? We’ve yet to figure it out. It’s a mystery.

We didn’t ask for the fight – we didn’t even expect it. Sometimes, even when you’re aware it can happen, being blindsided into a fight happens when you least expect it.

We hadn’t attended any superspreader events, we were just doing our normal life as we’ve done for the past 2.5 years, and boom we were off to fight off a bug of sorts that is far from asymptomatic. Just saying…that can’t be a real thing. I have never believed that and still don’t.

My to-fight-off symptoms are on the left, and Mr.’s on the right.

  • Sore throat
  • Fever for 2-3 days (101.6)
  • Headache for 24 hours
  • Body aches
  • Fatigue
  • Runny nose – short-lived
  • Cough (seal bark, dry, non-productive)
  • Lingering cough, and loss of taste and smell
  • Sore throat
  • Low-grade fever for 1 day
  • Congestion
  • Runny nose, stuffy nose
  • Headache for 24 hours
  • Body aches
  • Fatigue
  • Cough (congestive, productive, and lingering)

About mid-symptom onset (aka, day 4 for me, day 7 for Mr.), we joined together in the kitchen for a special moment of testing to see what kind of bug it might be we had fought with for the previous days.

To see if it was you-know-what or not.

It had been so long (for me, it was Jan 2020, to be exact) since either of us was sick that we thought it was just a typical cold or flu. It was just our turn for that. Upon the insistence of a loved one who dropped the tests off at our front door, we graciously took the tests.

After reading how to do it first, Mr. then walked us through the process in record time.

The positive lines appeared at warp speed and didn’t fade with time. They were very prominent moments after the drops were placed on the test. I’ve had the look at that positive feeling before a couple of times in my life. This kind of positive was new to me.

Well…huh. There you have it. We’ve got twins.

Huh…well, it was not quite as fun as finding out I was pregnant with our first, and second children. Three years apart, each positive was fun to discover. Finding out that we had twin cases of COVID, was a tad bit more underwhelming than having a baby on the way. At our age, having a baby on the way would be a miracle.

Anyhoo…that’s how we got into the COVID fighting ring. As not to belabor the events that unfolded, including how many boxes of Kleenexes were used, I’m glad to report we’re mostly fine. I had researched so much the last couple of years and had made sure we had a home treatment ready if positives ever happened.

The only thing I didn’t research was who was going to cook when Mr. couldn’t. He turned down my offerings and opted for bone broth instead until he felt well enough to cook. I don’t know why he didn’t like the sardines/avocado mixture spread on EggLife wraps. It was delicious (remember this is from the gal who had taste/smell issues).

We’re happy to put the end mark on the fight with COVID, with a been there, done that checkmark in the health records.

✅

It’s time to move on to completing the projects that were put on hold due to fatigue and coughing.

We I have decided to revive a room as a guest room. It was supposed to be my craft room, aka, where creative dreams stay stuck in boxes of unfinished projects.

My mom’s bed frame has been in 4 thrift sales and has yet to sell. Perhaps it was Mr.’s brain fog or my extra charm that convinced him, but he agreed that we could repurpose it, repaint it, and use it in the guest room. Once we get it done, I’ll show you how much work it has been to get to that point. That’s a clue as to why it didn’t sell.

If only the photo could show you what lovely powder blue the mirror below (which matches the bed frame) is that we’re covering with white paint.

Sneak peek below…

I knew I was feeling a bit better on Friday when I was ready to grab the camera and check out the yard. I knew what I’d write about for Linda’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday – “rings”, but I had to get some close-up macros for Terri’s Sunday Stills. It’s fun to have something to look forward to.

After the blurry week, it felt good to go outside and let my hair get frizzier than it was after waking up in the morning! LOL – humidity in WI is delightful. I’m thankful to say, it has been 6 years since I chose to go natural gray. I embrace my grays when it’s extra humid out, the frizzies pulled up into a ponytail make for a nice sparkly halo ring around my head.

Angelic right? Made you smile, right?!

Don’t get me laughing…I still sound like this.

I’ve thought a lot about bugs this week. Bugs, found on plants or in the form of a virus for humans to recover from are mysterious to me. One thing I know is the fear of whatever it is makes the situation worse than it has to be. You never know when bugs will appear or where they’ll come from. When they do, it’s a wild ride. No two people have the same symptoms, and no two plants survive the attack of certain invasive species. Yet, we co-exist in our world of the strongest shall survive.

The winner of the fights in nature takes all the gold medal rings.

The little spider above was shy. I had to wait long enough for him to trust that I wasn’t out to squish him before he appeared, grinned at me, and crawled into a new hiding space. Look at those beady little blue eyes. I think those spiders can launch themselves into the air. I was glad he retreated instead. I guess my hair was scarier than I thought.

The Japanese Beetle below didn’t even notice I was there. I don’t like JBs, they are so destructive. They’ve eaten way more of my plants than I’d like to be okay with. Doesn’t it look like its legs are causing the petals on the flower to discolor? Weird.

The beetle’s coloring and the little white dotted ring around their bodies are fascinating though.

Which close-up photo do you like better? 1 or 2 below?

These tiny green beetles are cute, but they’re probably not so nice to the corn crops. If I were to guess, I’d say it is a Northern Corn Rootworm or just a plain aphid which are common to marigolds.

. . .my stream of thoughts has dried up. Perhaps, it is brain fog fatigue. Who knows. Until the next time, I wish you all well!

Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ring.” Use it as a noun or a verb. Bonus points if you use it as both. Have fun! And Sunday Stills – Sept 18 Macro or Close-ups.

PS – Do you look for flowers or bugs in your garden? Which marigold colors do you like the best? Do you remember catching a childhood bug that took you by surprise? How old were you and what was your mom’s favorite home remedy?

Published by Shelley

Letting my quirk out one post at a time.

37 thoughts on “Our Blindsided Fight to Remember”

    1. Thanks, Janis. We’re thankful to be feeling better. Way to dodge it! I can’t remember who said it, but I remember hearing, “Omicron is unavoidable, everyone will eventually catch it.” I guess it was our turn. 🙂
      Thanks for stopping by, it’s great to hear from you. I look forward to reading about your trip!!

  2. Wow, great photos, Shelley! Your frizzy hair in the mirror looks cool. I have never seen a Tidy Cat container with legs! Those beetles are annoying when they get on you and hang on. Creepy.

    I can hardly look at the photos of that spider, they creep me out! I wonder where you guys picked up the virus? A grocery store or somewhere else? I’m glad that you guys have recovered!

    My daughter and her husband had the virus, they recovered thank God.

    Be safe, stay away from that virus!

    1. Thanks, John! My hair has taken on a look of its own during the humid summer mornings.
      LOL!! We’ve yet to determine the actual purpose of the Tidy Cat containers. They have come in handy for storage over the years.
      Little spiders lurking in the flowers creep me out, especially if they’re not afraid of me.
      It must’ve been picked up at a store? I don’t go anywhere and Mr. does all the shopping. He only went the places he’s gone all along. We’re glad to have recovered. Glad your daughter and hubby did too. I used to say stay away from it, now I’m inclined to say, be prepared for it any way you can. 😉
      Be safe, John! Take care 🙂

  3. The almost never ending covid fight…sigh. Wow your list of symptoms matched ours when we got our first covid in October 2020. You lost your sense of taste and smell like me–I have yet to get mine back fully–still muted certain times a day. I think we all need to reckon that covid is here to stay like the flu and cold, but we don’t necessarily need to quarantine like we did in the beginning. Before covid when I picked up a cold, I always wondered where I got it, but gave up trying to figure it out. Covid is endemic now and not the threat it used to be for most.

    Macro-speaking, I just love your spider/bugs on the marigolds–such stunning images. Excellent job on these my friend, even with your foggy brain! I remember your post when you decided to go gray. That was an inspiration to me to not worry about my curly reddish blonde hair, and let nature take it’s course. Even now mine looks more like silver-blonde highlights. I’m taking after dad and hoping it goes pure white–in fact I dare it to! LOL!

    Good idea for the guest room. We made sure when we chose our new home that we had two guest rooms and a good sized guest bath for people to visit and be comfortable. You will enjoy having that space (and yes, you will still store a few things in it). My dad may be coming to stay with us for a bit–he can’t really be left alone in the house they are staying in while my step-mom goes to deal with stuff relating to the fire. My dad has mild COPD and can’t be near the smoke. We have his room all ready! Take good care this week and let yourselves rest. That fatigue comes back to bite and I’m sure the seal cough is still fun!

    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Terri – I agree wholeheartedly. First COVID…you’ve had it more than once? Sorry to hear your taste/smell isn’t back 100% yet. Mine was fine and then all of a sudden, it’s gone again for a few days. My nephew lost his sense of smell back in Dec 2019 before we knew what COVID was. I think we’ve learned so much by now that we need to implement the newer knowledge versus the old original ideas. I remember when our kids were still at home, it was a yearly event for us to all share some kind of bug they picked up at school. It’s normal and part of building up a healthy immune system. Oh, well, perhaps one day we’ll look back and say, “Dang…we could’ve done better.” 😉

      Thanks for the macro photo critique – I appreciate your encouragement. I’d love to capture beautiful photos like you share! Yay for letting the natural hairs sparkle. I admire the pure white hair too – it’s not in my cards according to what I see in the mirror 6 years post-coloring. That’s so sweet you want to take after your dad’s color!!

      I was so sad when the kids moved out, I didn’t want to have a space with an empty bed that reminded me they weren’t there. Now I want them to feel comfortable when they visit. They are excited we’re doing this update and they’re looking forward to visiting when we’re done. WIN!

      I’m glad to read your dad may be coming to stay with you. With his COPD smoke would not be a good mix!

      Thank you for the well-wishes. I’m resting and barking as my body sees fit ;-).

      You have a great week too – enjoy the planning for your dad’s arrival!!

  4. Oh dear. Sorry you tested positive, but glad you’re both recovering. We haven’t had it yet but it does seem kind of inevitable, doesn’t it? 🤷‍♀️ I have tested myself multiple times for travel and whenever I don’t feel well but so far, I’ve been lucky. My kids say I’m in the unicorn club. LOL.

    I love the pics of bugs on flowers. One of my favorite pics ever was an accidental one I took of an ant on a peony. I still love it. Nice pics, as always!

    1. Aw, thanks, Laurel. We thought we belonged to the unicorn club. Guess we got booted out. LOL. I still believe that the timing of when the test is taken makes a difference. I think if we had tested on the first day of symptoms, we would’ve been negative and never tested again. I’m such a dreamer though. Now I know the rest of the story on how it feels to test positive and live through the illness. There is a bit of relief associated with being on this side of no longer wondering when it would happen.

      Thanks for the photo kudos. Insects on plants are such fun surprises to discover. An ant on a peony – ah, that reminds me of wandering through my grandmother’s garden lined with pink and white peonies. The ants were so busy – such happy memories. Thanks for triggering them for me. I hope you framed your photo!!

      Take care – if the unicorn horn works, don’t knock it off!! 🦄

  5. I’m glad you guys are on the mend. It sounds like you put up a great fight. Great photos on short notice. I hope you have a great week.

    1. Thanks, Dan, we’re “better” every day, it’s a bug that keeps on bugging us. The photo session was a nice distraction. On a complete side note, WP took your comment on a wild chase around my blog. It was there in my Reader comments, when I tried to reply, it disappeared and ended up in the Trash folder, when I restored it, it didn’t go to pending, it went somewhere else and I finally found it. Your comments have superpowers like the characters in your books! LOL

      1. I normally read your posts in the browser. Now that they finally figured out that I follow you, I get notifications in multiple places. I read this week’s post in the notifications drop-down on my blog page. Maybe that’s where the comment picked up its energy – trying to escape. I’m glad you’re both feeling better.

        1. Thank you so much for persevering to get past the following issues we’ve gone through over the years.
          Thank you for the well-wishes. One day at a time we’re feeling better and better.

  6. Hi Shelley, I’m visiting from Terri’s Sunday Stills and just love your marigold photos. I think my favourite is the first one, just fluffy and so happy looking, plus the gorgeous colour, but the bees and bugs in them are also spectacular. Good to know you’re on the mend from the ‘Covid bug’. Take care, Deb.

    1. Hi Debbie!! Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts and encouraging feedback. It’s great to meet you here in the blogosphere. I checked out your post too – the magnolias are so gorgeous, I’m jealous – I’ve never seen one in person. The flowers are so interesting!!
      We’re on the mend and will be mighty thankful when the bug ditches us for good!
      Take care and enjoy your week – I hope it warms up for you soon.

  7. Glad you’re out of the woods Shelley. Clever and engaging read. Not quite the same ring as a positive prego test you’re right and 2 of you sick at once is no fun. Love your cute frizzy’s…. yes, i smiled and your amazing beautiful pics. 🥰

    1. Hi Cindy! Thank you for stopping by to say HI and to check out my post.
      It has been quite the time sharing this bug with Mr. 😉 My hair definitely represents the frizzy feelings we’ve been experiencing. I remember when our daughters would wake up from naps with hair that looked like that. Might as well smile! 🥰😁 (PS it was fun to visit your blog too! I hope your week is less stressful than the previous one. Oh, and I learned how to do the cute emojis from Brian at https://bushboy.blog/ and I LOVE to use them like you do!!!) 😊😉😁

      1. Oh, it’s my pleasure Shelley. Glad we have connected here and smiling is a good thing always. Especially after what you’ve been through. Oh that’s sweet of you to visit. We’re in the build up but it is painstakingly getting done. Thanks for the wishes. I’m crazy about emojis too!! I thought I would miss my space bar but they are up and running. 🤗🥰💖

  8. Hello Shelley
    I am so excited about the bed frame and guest room
    It feels like win win because if you tried to sell the bed frame and mirror later on it might sell once it is white and updated (or not – and it might just need to stick around)
    I don’t like those destructive beetles and we didn’t have too many this year –
    Also – enjoyed all the flower photography

    1. Hi Yvette! Thanks for the encouragement – I’m so excited and it’d probably be all finished hadn’t COVID took the star role of our month. LOL. Yes, that’s why we went with white – nice basic and easy to decorate (we hope)!
      The beetles were a little less prevalent this year, probably because of the field of corn to attack instead.
      Glad you enjoyed the flowers. 😊

  9. Well bummer. Seems like you should have not gotten sick but there you go. I’m sorry, but glad to know you’re on the upswing. As for Japanese Beetles, DO NOT LIKE. They did in our rose bushes earlier this summer– and anything that messes with something pretty in the garden earns my wrath.

    1. Thanks, Ally – it’s a bummer and a win at the same time. No longer have to wonder when or if and how we’d get through it. Each day we’re better. I look forward to the return of smell and taste, that has been bothersome.

      Those Japanese Beetles are horrible to rose bushes. I’m sorry yours were attacked. It’s bad enough that rose bushes have normal rose bugs that attack them, but to add the JBs too, it’s too much – GRRR, they deserve your wrath!

  10. Happy you and the Mr. are on the mend. Sucks being sick, but looks like you have the correct supplies to care for yourself. No doubt some HCQ or Ivermectin would be helpful, too, but you-know-who said no…

    Don’t know if you listen to Russell Brand on YouTube, but he had a good one today… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LhCl-YPyQA

    (I know it’ll end up in your approval queue… I did that purposely…)

    1. Thanks, John. Yeah, Quercitin is supposed to be close to HCQ, I don’t have the other options to compare though. I have friends who were able to get Ivermectin and they swear by how helpful it was. I see it is finally on the CDC list as a cure for it, so that’s about time.

      I didn’t see that RB video, but watched it. Thanks for sharing. He’s so funny. It’s about time people get to hear more of the other theories that contradict what the MSM bombarded us with for the last 3 years.

      I hope you and Mary are well and enjoying the fall weather!

      1. I’m really tired of being told that something is “misinformation” or a “conspiracy theory.” I want to hear everything and make up my own mind. The way it looks, the difference between a conspiracy theory and a hard truth is about two weeks…

        1. I’m right there with you John! We made up our own minds by watching exactly that…who was silenced first. The difference is about 2 weeks and/or 2 years and the cycle of what to believe is ramping up now that the pandemic is over. 😉

  11. Ugghh so sorry you were sick. No fun…looks like you had some great supplements to help combat it. I love your photos of the marigolds!!

    1. Hi Kirstin – thank you for sharing and stopping by. It hasn’t been too awful, just not the most fun we’ve had together. I’m thankful for the supplements we were able to have on hand. Probably not as quick of a cure had we had Ivermectin or HCQ, but we’re here to say we’ve survived.
      Glad you enjoyed the marigolds!
      PS – I tried to click to your blog from your Gravatar and the link didn’t work….not sure why?

  12. Glad to hear you are on the mend Shelley even you still are barking like a seal. 🙂 In comparing the symptoms of you and Mr. it amazes me why they would not be more similar – same virus right? You’d think it would be the same symptoms. I know they say this latest version is the easiest to get and most of us will end up with this version eventually. I’m hedging my bets and getting the bivalent shot on Saturday and have to drive 10 miles each way to get it – my grocery store has no idea when the Moderna version comes in and the CVS near me was booked for weeks. So off I go to get it and the flu shot – I will glow in the dark soon from all the vaccines pumped in me (plus allergy shots) since the first Covid shot in March 2021.

    I like the first shot of the Marigold – like the eye doc who asks “better or worse” when you get the eye exam, it seems larger, maybe crisper. Enjoy the Marigolds bright beauty before the flakes fly!

    1. I think that’s astute of you to recognize the same virus gives different symptoms to each person. Heck, look at the Biden’s they were all protected and still got it – it’s here to stay and it is survivable. We all must do what we think is right, believe 100% in our chosen path, and take what comes our way. Oh, my, if you’re glowing that much, you won’t need to carry a flashlight on your walks and the critters will see you coming! 😉 Drive safely! 20 new miles on your car – yay!!
      Thanks for the marigold comments – I do that better or worse thing all the time with my photos! I’m enjoying the pops of golden colors. It’s going to get down into the 50s this weekend. Fall is here!
      Take care!!

      1. Our last day of warmth was today they say, though one weatherman says we will have a warm October. We are dropping 25 degrees overnight and I turned off the A/C so it I don’t freeze tomorrow a.m. 🙂 Ha ha – built in headlamp from all the shots and whatever is in them. You two recovered and others will too – maybe I worry too much, but I was more worried in the beginning before the shot was available and now we have drugs to combat Covid. Tomorrow we bundle up – now need a flannel mask (just kidding).

  13. Sorry to hear you both caught COVID-19.
    (Although working surrounded by potentially sick people, we were spared. But wearing a mask continuously is painful. I find myself thinking that I have to wear one, when the situation does not require it. It has become a must like glasses).
    The remedies are the same on both sides of the Atlantic. I hope that thanks to them your fatigue will disappear quickly.
    Your courage to take on new tasks is remarkable. Currently too busy at work our house remains messy or even a real shambles: capharnaüm . The days off, exhausted we rest.
    Nice pictures of insects! Here I fear the xylophagous black ants, my garden is invaded by them. Provided that they confine themselves there and are not interested in the house.
    Have a nice WE .

    1. Thanks, Anne. I tend to believe everyone will eventually catch it or think it was just a cold/flu and not get tested for it. In a healthy person, it is a mild case of annoyances to deal with for a week or so. My energy and taste/smell all came back within 8 days of onset of symptoms. I have this new sense of freedom from worrying about ‘what if we catch it’ – we caught it, and lived through it. 😊

      We took on a huge task with the 4th and final thrift sale while doing the other projects. Your choice of words to describe the state of the house is PERFECT!

      It’s turning cold here so the critters and the plants are not as pretty. We’re expecting frost this week, so I think my flower photos will be down to nothing. 🙁

      I hope you had a great weekend – I was going to post on Sunday, but I was TOO tired to do anything. Take care, it was great to hear from you!!

  14. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that mess! Glad you’re on the mend. We’ve all had a cold but nothing else this season…not to jinx it. I take a large amount of vitamin d and I do wonder if that helps me fend off some things. It does help me stay on the right side of my blood tests and absorb the calcium I need to be, so there’s that. Beautiful marigold with spider shots–I’m so glad you got out there to take some pics before the weather turns cold! Take care of you and Mr.! Feel all better soon!

    1. Thank you, Rebecca. I’d say it was like having a cold that hung on for a bit longer than we’d care to have it around. LOL. You’re wise to take Vit D, I do believe it helps fend off some things and like you said, helps with blood tests and calcium.
      Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts. It’s always great to hear from you blogging buddy.
      We’re all better now…just cramming in projects before the winter snow arrives. 😉

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