The Corona Diaries

 

Meaningful Milestones of a Persistent Pandemic

March 11, 2020 – Begin voluntary lockdown.

January 25, 2021 – Kaiser sends a message that vaccine appointments are being scheduled. After three websites and one telephone call, finally make it to the “wait list.”

January 26, 2021 – Rivers East Village where we volunteer, informs us that since we drive old folks to the doctor, we both qualify for Phase 1a group 3: Non-emergency medical drivers. Excitedly, we try again to schedule an appointment through Kaiser, again without success.

January 27, 2021, 5:05 pm – Channel 8 news details step by step instructions for scheduling vaccine appointments through the Oregon State website.

January 27, 2021, 30 seconds later – Log on to https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/. 

January 27, 2021, 5:15 pm – Appointments scheduled.

January 29, 2021 – Receive first Pfizer vaccination doses at the Oregon Convention Center.

Oregon Convention Center.  Like a day at Disneyland, except.....

....this.

 Nearing C3PO's safety presentation

Sitting and smiling in the "Watch Them to Make Sure They Don't Pass Out" area.

February 18, 2021 - Back to the OCC for our second dose.  We had been without power since the ice storm, so two days before our appointment we went looking for a hotel.  Turns out the only one in the area with a vacancy was right across the street from OCC.  So we spent a couple of days with glorious heat and power watching others get their shots.

Vaccines waiting across the street from the Hotel Eastlund

Final Stop: the Selfie Station

So, F**k you, Covid

We see you in the rear-view mirror.

A couple of weeks to total immunity, then shortly after that we’ll be able to hug our children and granddaughter. That is the first thing we want to do after a long year.

We feel like everything is in place for that to happen and at this point WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

We are so fortunate to be where we are in life, in health, in finances, in Oregon and in love. Our wonderful kids have helped us so much – from pickup and delivery service to flexibility at birthdays and holidays (Thanksgiving in the parking lot and Christmas in the garage!)

We have missed out on lots of things, who hasn’t? No point in looking back, it’s all good man…

Update:

September 28 2021 - Received our booster shot at Kaiser.  Feeling invincible.  A couple of trips already scheduled or in the planning stages.

January 3 2022 - Hello Omicron.  Tom develops symptoms. Feels similar to a cold.  Three days later, Jan has symptoms.  We suspect we got it from a dishwasher repairman, but will never know for sure.  Spend he next week or so huddled under blankets.  Six days later, Tom can finally gets into Kaiser for a Covid test. Positive.

Tasty Non-travel Tunes:

The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles

Don’t Stop Believing - Journey

I’m Free - The Who

On the Road Again - Willie Nelson