The medical staff is exhausted. They have been overworked for almost a year and a half, and their dedication is taking its toll. When you get your vaccine, be sure to thank those people profusely.
august 5, 2021 – why it’s hard to get the third vaccine now Read Post »
Every time I would hint at a question about the partisans in the holocaust to my mother’s cousin, his wife would start to answer and he would warn her to keep silent. I only understood after many years that he was worried that the bravery of the partisans would be inverted to war crimes. Seeing this film made me understand that silence even more. And the reason my mother always blamed the Lithuanians far more than the Germans.
august 5, 2021 – rewriting history Read Post »
For some reason I found myself talking to a few of my writer friends – one after the other they complained that they haven’t been writing lately, that they have nothing to say, that they are too busy coping. Then I got a call from a writer who has been bedridden for over a decade. He’s publishing a book.
It was comforting to know that there are other writers feeling as frustrated as I am, and good to know that someone – a good writer – is succeeding.
august 4, 2021 – who’s writing now? Read Post »
To understand what is going on since I got my booster shot today, first watch this Buddy Hackett video.
Now imagine me lolling in the middle of my bed, drinking the coffee Ezi has prepared, demanding dinner and asking him to do all kinds of things because I’m too weak. “You know that big package of toilet paper up on top of the cupboard? Can you get it down for me?” And Ezi tries – first with a stool and an extender and then a ladder and a struggle because there is something blocking it. And finally, he gets it down and brings it to me and I say, “Aw, I don’t want your duck.”
Aren’t you lucky you’re not married to me.
august 3, 2021 – the duck Read Post »
Believe me, I feel it. Believe me, I am very conscious of the fact that this is uncharted territory. Believe me, I am not totally comfortable. I feel the serum throughout my body, and am staying in bed today – with coffee and chocolates to comfort me. I would rather have had another country try out these experiments instead of us.
But when I think of all the vaccinations I had on my way to Ecuador or Viet Nam, without a single qualm, I feel I have nothing to complain about.
Maybe it will make me infertile…
or maybe it will make me immortal.
But it definitely gives me an excuse to lie around all day, something I didn’t have but did for the entire year.
august 3, 2021 – i got the third vaccine Read Post »
By chance, I was watching CNN reporting on Covid in Africa, as I was okaying my appointment for a vaccine tomorrow on my whatsapp. They were talking about rich countries like Israel who should be sharing their vaccines instead of giving a third dose to citizens. It’s true – we made a deal with Pfizer. Because of our health care system that has information on every citizen, we’re perfect for experimental studies. No one has tested the third vaccine before. And so we’ve agreed to be guinea pigs. I don’t think that guinea pigs can share their experimental drugs with anyone.
august 2, 2021 – rich countries, vaccines, and cnn Read Post »
Because it is clear that Ezi’s third vaccine has given him no protection, and people are behaving as if we have conquered the virus, we are somewhat dejected. Maybe very dejected. Maybe so dejected that we have to buy new cars. I have been without a car since I gave my PT cruiser to my son, since I wasn’t going anywhere anyway. And I really don’t need a car when I can use Ezi’s. But cars are Ezi’s dream. He sold the jaguar he bought after he first recovered from stage 4 lymphoma a few years ago because I was movement-challenged and had problems getting in and out (I’m such a kvetch). And now, that he’s facing another serious challenge, we’re looking into a Tesla, which would provide the distraction he deserves. Anyway today we took a test drive on a Suzuki and tomorrow a Tesla friend will show off to us, so he will be very very distracted.
If only everyone was vaccinated and wore masks, we could relax – just a bit.
so here is the situation in my family. In the morning we decided that we really want to know if we have antibodies before I get another vaccine. So we went to the hospital and joined the crowds wanting to get serology tests so they can go abroad. It took a long time, but the blood test was simple and gentle. I asked the nurse if he had been doing this all day and he said it was his second shift – that he usually works in a ward in the hospital – so I knew he had experience, and I knew he was tired. By the time we got home to rest, I got the results. but I couldn’t understand what I was positive for. Positive for antibodies or positive for Corona. It looked like I was okay, but I got a little hysterical that the test didn’t explain in simple terms.
By the time I got an answer from my doctor, we had to leave for another hospital for Ezi’s PET-CT. In the meantime his answer came back negative, and there was that sudden realization that our life in isolation is going to go on just like before – meeting friends outside, staying clear of children, shopping online. Wait a minute! That’s not so bad!
Then he texted me from the radiation room – Maybe because he’s in a clinical trial, they didn’t give him a vaccine, maybe he got a placebo. Maybe he should get out of the trial and get vaccinated…
Anyway because he was supposed to fast we didn’t have dinner and won’t get home before midnight, and what concerns me right now is grilled cheese…
august 1, 2021 – health update Read Post »
