The Alternative

I got my second shot today. I went with one of my relatives and we celebrated by going to lunch afterwards. We’re both relieved we got the shot. After all, it’s better than the alternative, right?

Up until today, the serious effects of Covid were unknown to us. Our family has taken the CDC guidelines seriously. Elderly and medically vulnerable members locked themselves down, we wear masks and don’t take unnecessary risks. Isolation can be tough but some of my relatives have come up with ingenious ways of staying connected by taking online live safaris in Africa and star walks with astronomers. They’ve become zoom masters. We are dealing with it as best we can and that includes going to get our vaccines when it’s our turn. We’re just as concerned with spreading the disease to our relatives, some of whom should be bubble wrapped, as we are as getting it ourselves.

Right now, my main concern is for my daughters who are becoming more vulnerable while our older relatives and those of us with pre-existing conditions are getting vaccinated.

For the most part, no one I know who has gotten Covid among my coworkers has been severely ill, although one relatively young coworker seems to have a long haul version. She was recently vaccinated and had a reaction after her first shot. That’s a potentially good sign that her body is going to be able to fight the lingering effects off.

Until today, I didn’t know anyone who had it bad. Then I got a ping from a friend I hadn’t heard from for awhile. She had been in the hospital. She had Covid and was hospitalized for a month in January. She was on a ventilator. They didn’t think she was going to make it but she did. Then she had to go to rehab for another month – to learn how to walk again. She’s now at home, using a rollator to get around. She’s younger than I am and she has a very long recovery ahead for her. I’m hoping to see her next week once I get over whatever reaction comes my way.

So, that’s the alternative. That’s what we are trying to avoid by getting the shot. We don’t want to get it and we don’t want to give it. And the conspiracy theories and scare tactics aren’t anywhere near as concerning as ending up on a ventilator and having to learn to walk again. Or having neurological damage and memory problems. Or a whole host of other maladies that make your life miserable.

I didn’t really understand sickness until two years ago. I had been ridiculously healthy all my life. And even with my diagnosis, I can truthfully say that the treatment was worse than the ailment. I never really suffered any illness because it was caught early. But what the body has to go through by taking what amounts to gallons of weed killer followed by amputation and Chernobyl makes me appreciate how vulnerable our bodies really are. The worst parts of that experience was the feeling of the loss of control and depending on someone else to get you into the car when you threaten to collapse in the grocery store. It was walking to work with blistered feet, a reaction to my chemo, and knowing that I couldn’t take too many days off without losing my health insurance. If you’ve never had a serious illness, you may not take the threat of Covid very seriously. For most people, it’s just not that bad and we don’t know those people who have gotten truly ill.

The rest of us can’t wait to get the shot.

Bad Reactions

I’m getting shot #2 today! My coworker told me to get my Tylenol handy but that it only takes the edge off. I’m prepared for a miserable weekend. Then I’ll be freeeeee! FREEEEEE, I say!! Under my mask.

And it’s the beginning of allergy season when the entire natural world outside seems to be dragging us into an airborne orgy. yay.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who is having a bad reaction this week. Just look at Mitch McConnell telling his corporate campaign donors to stuff a sock in it and then doing a “baby, I didn’t mean it” walk back the very next day. He’s blubbering about how if the Democrats eliminate the filibuster, he’ll go nuclear! But it sounds like all he can do is return the senate to regular rules of debate. No more hiding anonymously behind a filibuster to highjack legislation.

Eliminating the filibuster hasn’t happened yet but it’s funny to watch him flopping around like a fish out of water. Just the idea of releasing the flood gates on legislation has him scared silly. What’s even funnier is the reactions of his opponents. {{smirk}}

I love it.

And I suspect there are millions of proud boy fans who are reacting badly to the senate parliamentarian’s ruling on reconciliation. Looks like a whole lot of legislation is going to be passed – *popular* legislation – without any Republican help. Lips that touch reconciliation shall never touch theirs.

It’s almost like the money flow that typically goes to the top is being turned off. But that might be ok because businesses might not suffer too badly if more people have discretionary income to spend. I can almost hear the “Curses! Foiled again!” from the oil barons and the predators at the top of the food chain. They appear to be reacting in confusion to the prey getting smarter.

That’s really what’s happening here. We’ve been studying them and cracking the code. We had 4 years to prepare for D-day and now the allies are here. The battle is on.

Not every battle will be won and there will be variants that will cause some setbacks. But it looks like the body isn’t going to take this crap laying down anymore.

Rest up. There are going to be some very bad reactions.

That’s how you know it’s working.