My Life As A Hobby

Well, it’s taken almost a half century, but I’m finally going to get it off my chest. It’s been long enough. The way I see it, It took less than 50 years after dropping the The Bomb on Japan for us to become allies. So if time can heal a wound like that, maybe Susan wonʼt hold a grudge. She might even laugh. Either way, I’m telling the story.   It was the summer of 1970, one year before my high school graduation, and I was working at a golf course pro shop. Even though the air conditioning was preferable than the 90+ degrees outside, time was passing slower than cold ketchup pouring out of a bottle.  No doubt it was because later I had a date with Susan. She was a cute, perky strawberry blonde, and we had been dating on and off for a month or two. Nothing serious, but we were having a good time.  When I called her to confirm the pick up arrangements, Susan told me something had come up, and she had to break the date.   No word on what that something was.  What I...

After 10 days, I got retested today. It was negative!  So, I hope that was my final experience with Corona.  I had to wait almost all day to get in the office  and get the result.  Locally, there are a few places that do same day testing, but they are in high demand.  However, on line registration, and keeping me informed of my wait time made things much easier,  enabling me to arrive about an hour before my test. No waiting in the car for 6 hours like my son and wife did.   As sure as I was that I had Covid before I tested 10 days ago, I was equally sure that the test I took today was going to be negative.  But I tried not to think about it.   If I dwelled  on the fact that I didn’t still have it and turned out to be wrong, that would have been a major blow to my psyche.  I did not want to be in COVID timeout any more.  But I knew so many people were praying for me and my family - and that gave me a peaceful confidence as they...

It’s been a week since I tested positive, and  I’m back home from my self  imposed isolation.  As I count down the days until my next test on Wednesday, I’m fighting boredom.  So why not write a song parody?  Granted, it’s probably been done, and it’s lame, but I wrote it, so there!   And now with apologies to the Knack and Weird Al, here is My Corona.   Feel free to sing as you feel lead.  My Corona  Ooooh, the doctor swabbed my nose Swabbed my nose  And now I know that  I’ve got Corona. Ooooh, I thought I had a cold Had a cold,  But now I know I’ve got Corona.  Always wore a mask Washed my hands.   Now I’m short of breath All the food tastes bland.   Cause I-I-I yi yi woo! I-I-I’ve got Corona!  Trapped inside for 14 days Here I’ll stay  Just because I’ve got Corona.   Now it’s coming out both ends  Out both ends Never gonna win with my Corona! Always wore a mask Washed my hands.   Now I...

Day 5  -   Just woke up, went out on my deck and spotted three black crows on my pier.  Not what you wanna see when you have Corona.   Good thing I’m not superstitious.  Besides how can you be worried when you’re wearing your lucky t shirt? When people read my first post about COVID, I got  lots of questions  about the timeline, the symptoms, and the transmission of ‘Rona. So as a public service, I’ll let you know what happened.  Don’t guess this post will be funny, but I’ll try.  Our youngest son who is a RN, lives w us and was exposed at work. They did a 24 hour test which was positive, and then he packed up and headed to our place at the lake for isolation.   We sprayed  Lysol and alcohol everywhere. Used bleach too.        The next day I had a stuffy nose.  It felt like allergies and I thought nothing of it.  Then I began to get headaches In the morning.  Still, it seemed like sinusitis and not...

I’m eating a breakfast burrito - or it it a Chili Dog?  Wait,  maybe  it’s a spicy tuna roll, or a glazed donut.   Right now it could be any of the above because currently my taste buds don’t know Little Debbie from Chef Boyardee.   All compliments of good ol’ COVID.  Granted, it seems my case of the virus isn’t near as bad as so many others (although I was told to be vigilant because it  can change quickly).   So, even though I have COVID  right now, I feel lucky.   Just a daily headache, occasional mild cramps, some shortness of breath, and a general blah feeling.     However,  like so many people who have it, I’ve lost my sense of taste and smell.  Beginning to lose my taste was one of the things that made me think I had COVID and not a case of seasonal allergies.  This symptom seems like a level of Dante’s Purgatory personalized just for me.  I love to cook and eat, unlike my wife who believes recipe is ...

Ok, let’s get it out in the open.  I have Corona.  I tested positive a couple of days ago after experiencing  headaches for about 3 days.  I passed them off as seasonal allergies, but when I woke up Sunday with some shortness of breath,  it was time to be tested.  I tested positive and my wife did not - something I will hold over her head forever.  Not surprisingly, from the minute we got the results, I was packing my bags.  After a pickup order from the grocery store, I was out the door.   Fortunately, we have a little place on a big lake about 90 minutes from our home. And I promise you as I look across the placid water, there are worse places to be banished for 10 days.  That’s when they want me to be retested.   I know all the cases are different, but  I don’t feel too bad.  It feels like a sinus headache.  Yesterday I walked almost two miles and did some light yard work.  The doctor told me I need to fight t...

  The Webster’s Dictionary defines the word perspective as “a particular attitude toward, or way of regarding something.”  Our perspective can change with age, knowledge, or an event in our life.  So it makes sense that a five year old’s perspective of the world is about the same as my perspective of quantum physics, right?  So why did I have to learn that the hard way?    The Sunday morning worship service had just ended and we were talking to our minister outside the sanctuary because we’re Methodists and that’s the law.   As we discussed some of the finer points of his sermon, I felt several sharp tugs on my pants leg. It was my 5 year old son Matt.  Looking down, I saw a little face that was a mix of terror and urgency. He looked like he had just seen Pennywise the clown.  “Dad, Dad, Dad!”, he said loudly. “ I have to talk to you right now! ”   I ignored his youthful disregard of manners and in a kind fatherly voice asked h...