After a couple of sneezes and some soreness in my throat I finally had to admit I have a cold. And I’m pretty sure it’s just a cold and not something much worse, although if it is that other disease going around then the vaccine’s definitely doing its job. And maybe it’s not even a cold. The temperature’s dropped recently and the leaves are falling and I know from past experience that the sneezes I get from being out in the leaves are indistinguishable from the sneezes I get when I have a cold. I also know from experience that I get a cold whenever the weather changes and some say it seems like everyone has a cold right now anyway.
The point is I’m not taking any chances. There’s a big holiday luncheon at work and just to be on the safe side—that is, to keep everyone else on the safe side—I’m skipping it. I’d rather not spread around any germs I’m carrying and it’s an added benefit that they won’t mingle with anything anyone else is carrying, although everyone I work with is supposed to be vaccinated and recently boosterized. Also there’s the added benefit that I don’t have to worry about getting there, finding a place to park, and finding a place to sit, and I’m still wary of being inside with a bunch of people. Then there’s getting out once it’s all over.
The fact that I’m fine with missing a free lunch, funny enough, brought up memories of when I was a kid and it always seemed like whenever some big special event was coming up at school like a holiday party or a play I had a part in I’d wake up that morning with a sore throat or feeling sick. And I’d spend a few minutes walking around my room saying “I feel fine” to make sure I could stay vertical and sounded normal, at least long enough to get through the day, or long enough to get through the party. It always felt like nature, or my immune system, was playing a cruel trick on me for all those times the rest of the year when I’d pretend to be sick so I could get out of going to school. The day of a party or other big event was always the one day I’d say, Let me be sick tomorrow, even if tomorrow happened to be a Saturday. And then I’d spend the day at school spreading my germs around and mingling them with whatever all the other kids were carrying.
I know the drive and the parking would be a hassle and I’d have to make up for lost time which I really don’t want to have to do when we’ll all be out for Thanksgiving later this week, but I also hate to miss the big luncheon. It’s not just the food, which is always really good, and, hey, you’re supposed to feed a cold, but it’s also always a chance to see people I spend the rest of the year talking to via email or the occasional instant message and actually talk to them about something other than work.
Maybe next year I’ll be able to go, when I can honestly tell people, “I feel fine,” and not worry about sneezing on them.
We in Florida are experiencing what is being referred to as the “super cold”. It’s nothing more than a regular cold – on steroids. Apparently it can also last 2 weeks on top of the regular “I feel just awful” state that a normal cold produces. I guess it’s good news that it isn’t Covid or the Flu, but after all those shots, you’d think that we could catch a break!
It would be nice to catch a break and I know having just a normal cold can be terrifying because you wonder if it’s COVID. Or the flu, which can also get pretty bad. I guess I shouldn’t knock it, though. Compared to what’s possible even a bad cold seems like something to be glad about.
I feel fine knowing there are thoughtful people like you in this world. Chris.
Knowing I make your world a little better makes me feel pretty fine too.
What a shame you had to miss the luncheon–but you did the right thing, something which I wish more people would consider when they’re sick, especially right now!
The last eighteen months have really highlighted the importance of being considerate of other people, mostly because there are so many inconsiderate people out there. Giving someone a cold used to be a joke but it seems a lot less funny now.