Friday the 13th

The rain continues. Ed comes up at around 5 to tell me what I already know -- it is going to be a wet day. I confirm it on the map showing the radar clouds moving in, continuously, clouds that will bring showers or a steady pounding of rain, with gusty winds and bone chilling temperatures.

But wait. I turn to him with this discovery: there's going to be a window of dryness. Just one. Right after 6 a.m. But you have to catch it quickly because by 7 the rains will resume.

I tell him -- I'm going to go out and bike then!

He looks at me with a look that is somewhere between skeptical, bewildered, and amused. Why? -- he asks. It's the rings. You're OCD with them. It's dark, cold and wet and you want to bike now. (A shake of the head follows.)

And maybe he is right. But this is what happens when you've closed those movement rings for one and a half months, even on the day when you had a long overseas flight. Should I give it up now? 

Listen, it's a healthy obsession! -- I tell him. 

Let me ask you this: where exactly are you going to bike? 

I have a feeling that the question was prompted by a sudden concern for my safety. But I have a strong headlight and I plan to stick mainly with bike paths.

I put on many layers. And gloves. And my warmer jacket. 

Outside, it is indeed still dark. The sun will rise in a little less than an hour, but it wont be visible given our thick cloud cover. Gloomy dark. Well, I'm up and I'm dressed for it. I take out the bike, grateful for the strong headlight.

And what's this? It's raining. Not hard, but with big fat drops. What happened to my window of no rain??

I'm not going to give up. I left a snug warm house for this! I'm sticking with the ride. People ride in the rain, don't they?

The wind is vicious. The rain? Well, I've seen worse. (I've also seen better.)

But I'm concerned that I may be caught in a downpour and so I do turn back. A 35 minute ride wont close my rings, but it's a good start! We'll see what the rest of the day may bring!

At home, I feed the animals. Getting closer to sunrise now...

And I cook up some oatmeal for breakfast. Oatmeal in the morning, soup for supper. It's that kind of a day. The two cats that are most tied to the farmhouse (Dance and Unfriendly Snowflake) join us, grateful for the warmth coming up from the furnace, grateful for the companionship. 

Chores. The morning has a small handful of them. And since I'm out driving around, shouldn't I pick up some croissants? I miss croissants!

I'm home now. Still have a couple of hours before I pick up the kids. Ah, but it's cold outside! Or am I getting a cold? Nah... Feel great. Still, I've been traveling. I always test myself for Covid when I return. I didn't this time because I was still the one mask wearer at airports, anywhere in lightly crowded situations. Besides, I just got my booster three weeks ago. Still, I have all these Covid tests lying around, expiring as we speak. May as well use one.

Say what? Positive?!

I dont believe it. I feel fine! A little raspy after walking around in Paris with air quality being at an all time low there. A bit drippy after that ride in the rain, but fine! I want the rain to stop so I can finish my circles! Ed doesn't believe it either. Test again!

I test again. Positive.

This is where it would be very appropriate to insert a curse word.

We brainstorm. Should I go to a hotel? Yes, maybe. But it's complicated! Should I stay upstairs in the bedroom? Ed points out that we have a furnace that's recycling air from all rooms. What comes out of the bedroom will blow out elsewhere in the house.

We finally decide that he should move to the sheep shed for the duration of my quarantine. Me, I don't like the sheep shed. He has warmer feelings towards it -- he lived there before I agreed to move to the farmhouse. 

Meanwhile, I have to cancel my babysitting commitment and hope, really hope that I did not pass on Covid to the kids. (They can't have been the source of this -- the timing is all wrong.) Or to Ed.

I pick up Paxlovid (my doc recommends it for us old people who aren't on meds that may trigger adverse reactions). I purchase the new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. And I call Ed. A lot. Back for a day, parted again. 

The words I miss you have been spoken so often, on both sides, and the thing is, they're so true.

with love...