When I think back to the last of the “Before” or “Normal” times my memories of early January are ironically filled with sickness. A double-barrel Flu was sweeping Denver. Co-workers hacked and coughed, sneezed, sniffled, and runny noses abound. And not just at work, the bus became a gauntlet as well. But it was “normal”. No different than any other year. I remember trying in vain not to get sick. Daily “Defense” lemonade/tea from Starbucks.
One event standing out was the National Western Stock Show Parade. I ran down with a co-worker, and we missed the cows, but caught some parts of the horses.
But alas, I was not immune. A few days later I knew I wasn’t feeling well. I only came into the office because some co-workers had flown in and I needed to take the opportunity to meet with them.
One night I kept telling myself I needed to go home. That I couldn’t go out with them. But got caught up in the fun, and stayed out, even though I was feeling crappy.
A day or two later we were supposed to go on the Denver Office Holiday party, taking the Ski Train up to Winter Park to snowmobile. I…hate being cold. And so had bought new gear to feel warm. But the night before…I just knew. I wasn’t backing out because of the cold, I was backing out because I didn’t want to get others sick.
I woke up in the morning and briefly considered sucking it up and going on the trip. But, again thinking about getting everyone else sick, I decided not to. And it was a smart idea. A few hours later I was spinning, with fever and chills. It was the sickest I’ve ever felt. It would have been hell in the middle of trying to snowmobile with this. PLUS I found out that the 4 hour train ride back turned into a 7+ hour train ride back due to high wind. So I lucked out twice by not going.
After a day or so I started feeling better and as quick as it came, it was gone. But I worked from home a bit as my cough lingered. And since I had used up all of my medicine in my “cold cart” (a small wheeled cart that I had cold/flu supplies in to take care of myself) I started to replenish my supplies.
And then I heard about the Wuhan Flu.
I had seen a small little article on CNN about a new type of SARS like virus in a small far off Chinese town. But never clicked on the article. No, my first true introduction was on Reddit. Someone posted to the Travel Subreddit simply this: “Hey, hope anyone in China is staying safe. I hear this flu is a serious sickness. They are talking about locking down some cities. Get out while you can.” It was January 18th.
This was such a strange comment I followed the OP to a newly opened subreddit about the Wuhan/Chinese Flu as it was called back then. Over the next few days I saw raw footage coming out of Wuhan. And it was terrifying. The things I saw…I can never unsee. And I knew, this wasn’t fake. Part of me hoped this would come to the US. But another part of me, the part that had just clawed myself back from being sick with the flu, screamed to prepare.
I didn’t buy any masks. This was naive part of me saying this cannot be real, this won’t happen to me. I thought “Its fine to buy extra cold/flu meds. Fine to buy some hand sanitizer. But masks? When will I use masks if I’m wrong. Everything else I’m buying…I can use.” So I started with normal things. Extra over the counter meds since “Most medicine components are made in China, so if their shutdown is long X, Y, and Z might be hard to come by.” Then it was basic cleaning supplies. I hate cleaning so didn’t buy more than a bottle or two, and now regret not getting more.
The only break from my newfound breaking-news-on-reddit obsession was to take in the Claude Monet exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. I had been so excited for this Exhibit, and saw it in its final few weeks. I had enjoyed seeing other Monet works in Chicago and LA in the later part of 2019. And so was able to draw from those pieces and the ones on exhibit. I spent hours there.
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Haystacks. I’ve seen many Monet haystacks the last few months. Denver, LA, Chicago. Never gets old.
The Haystacks are some of my favorite. But I was uneasy. I was acutely aware of anyone who coughed, sneezed, had a runny nose and would scurry away from them.
By end of January we were seeing the runs on toilet paper in Asia. I started stocking up on paper goods. Toilet paper I was good on, but bought more tissues. I binged watch the 3rd season of Sabrina on Netflix.
Other Events in the World:
- Possible World War Three with Iran
- Apocalyptic Australia Fires
- Impeachment Trial
- Brexit
- Harry & Megan leave the Royal Family
- Taal Volcano in the Philippines Explodes
- Earthquakes in Puerto Rico
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