Or Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. Mother and I watched my church's livestream church service.
We're still coughing in unison, or so it seems. And bro being ever helpful sent an article from the UK Guardian regarding the updated COVID symptoms of the Omicron variant taking on the form of the common cold.
There are no "free" tests available on the island. We checked. The pharmacies are also sold out of all of the rapid tests - on the island and in the surrounding area. The local paper reported none are to be found. A local reporter actually traveled to all of them to personally check it out. PCR tests cost $200 per adult at the urgent care center, and the rapid tests are anywhere between $60 - $175 per adult. Mother has one box of the BiNaxNow home test left. Hard pass on the $200 tests. For 187,000 residents there's no tests to be found - they are sold out.
After much worrying, and hemming and hawing and pulling of the hair, I decided to reschedule my return flight. Contacted Jetblue and had them reschedule the flight for December 31. Cost about $68 plus the amount for the even more space seat ($33). I figure, I should be fine by December 31, and whatever I've got will be out of my system. Or so I hope.
By mutual agreement, I'm taking the home test on Tuesday or Wed, prior to leaving.
Apparently flights have been cancelled right and left the last five days due to COVID and the weather. Many folks holiday plans are up in smoke so to speak. So, I feel lucky to be here with my Mom, who is spending her first Christmas in 57 years of marriage without my Dad. Separated by dementia brought on by Alzheimers, and a pandemic that will not end. So my being able to come down for two weeks at Xmas was by far the best gift I could give my parents, and the only thing my mother wanted. And in these crazy times, it's a priceless and perhaps precious ones. Material things matter little and are increasingly replaceable and disposable, but human life, a loved one, is precious and unique and cannot be replicated or replaced. And the moments we spend with each other are small indeed.
We hope to visit my Dad tomorrow and give him his Xmas gift. It will be warmer tomorrow - a sunny day in the 70s, so we can sit outside, which would be more doable and less cramped. Today he was apparently doing much the same as he'd been doing the day before, wandering the halls in his wheelchair, singing and whistling, and babbling incoherently. But at least he makes his caregiver's laugh with his off-beat sense of humor.
Tonight, we made lasagna together - a recipe from an ancient book my mother bought the first year of her marriage entitled - 365 Ways to Cook Hamburger. A bit modified for the gluten-intolerant. Also we didn't do the pepperoni on top, and substituted italian seasoning for parsely. And according to mother we never get five to six layers, this round on two, maybe three. The lasagna was good - if a bit sloppy, it always is the first go around. And for desert, a slice of my brother's spiced carrot cake. Afterwards we watch the news on PBS, and then, finally a fun rom-com "A Castle for Christmas" on Netflix.
Today, I walked about the golf course that my parents house borders, and tried to take photos of a photo-shy blue heron fishing in the nearby lagoon. The sun was bright in a cloudless sky, warm on my face, and I didn't need much more than a sweater.
The rest of my week promises to be in the 70s, and sunny, so who knows, perhaps I'll make it to the beach.
I just hugged my aging mama good night, and am off that way myself, by way of neti pot.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.
We're still coughing in unison, or so it seems. And bro being ever helpful sent an article from the UK Guardian regarding the updated COVID symptoms of the Omicron variant taking on the form of the common cold.
There are no "free" tests available on the island. We checked. The pharmacies are also sold out of all of the rapid tests - on the island and in the surrounding area. The local paper reported none are to be found. A local reporter actually traveled to all of them to personally check it out. PCR tests cost $200 per adult at the urgent care center, and the rapid tests are anywhere between $60 - $175 per adult. Mother has one box of the BiNaxNow home test left. Hard pass on the $200 tests. For 187,000 residents there's no tests to be found - they are sold out.
After much worrying, and hemming and hawing and pulling of the hair, I decided to reschedule my return flight. Contacted Jetblue and had them reschedule the flight for December 31. Cost about $68 plus the amount for the even more space seat ($33). I figure, I should be fine by December 31, and whatever I've got will be out of my system. Or so I hope.
By mutual agreement, I'm taking the home test on Tuesday or Wed, prior to leaving.
Apparently flights have been cancelled right and left the last five days due to COVID and the weather. Many folks holiday plans are up in smoke so to speak. So, I feel lucky to be here with my Mom, who is spending her first Christmas in 57 years of marriage without my Dad. Separated by dementia brought on by Alzheimers, and a pandemic that will not end. So my being able to come down for two weeks at Xmas was by far the best gift I could give my parents, and the only thing my mother wanted. And in these crazy times, it's a priceless and perhaps precious ones. Material things matter little and are increasingly replaceable and disposable, but human life, a loved one, is precious and unique and cannot be replicated or replaced. And the moments we spend with each other are small indeed.
We hope to visit my Dad tomorrow and give him his Xmas gift. It will be warmer tomorrow - a sunny day in the 70s, so we can sit outside, which would be more doable and less cramped. Today he was apparently doing much the same as he'd been doing the day before, wandering the halls in his wheelchair, singing and whistling, and babbling incoherently. But at least he makes his caregiver's laugh with his off-beat sense of humor.
Tonight, we made lasagna together - a recipe from an ancient book my mother bought the first year of her marriage entitled - 365 Ways to Cook Hamburger. A bit modified for the gluten-intolerant. Also we didn't do the pepperoni on top, and substituted italian seasoning for parsely. And according to mother we never get five to six layers, this round on two, maybe three. The lasagna was good - if a bit sloppy, it always is the first go around. And for desert, a slice of my brother's spiced carrot cake. Afterwards we watch the news on PBS, and then, finally a fun rom-com "A Castle for Christmas" on Netflix.
Today, I walked about the golf course that my parents house borders, and tried to take photos of a photo-shy blue heron fishing in the nearby lagoon. The sun was bright in a cloudless sky, warm on my face, and I didn't need much more than a sweater.
The rest of my week promises to be in the 70s, and sunny, so who knows, perhaps I'll make it to the beach.
I just hugged my aging mama good night, and am off that way myself, by way of neti pot.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.