Monday, February 15, 2021

Saturday's Scribbles on Monday

Good Saturday or is it Monday to you from what undoubtedly is one of our coldest days of 2021 here in Iowa....Yesterday we woke up to -35 degree wind chills, today we woke to the regular temperature at a balmy -19 with wind chills around -38.  This is unusual in February, but it has been an unusual winter.   It is during these days that  I deeply long for warmer climates where my bones don't complain, and my hands and feet are not always cold!  Right?   Not only am I thankful for my fluffy wool comforter at night but my wool blend socks during the day.  We are also using our fireplace a lot more right now and so grateful for it!

This cold weather had me going back to the weekend our middle daughter was married.  Bitterly cold weather settled in with temperatures dipping to -37 where we lived then in Minnesota.  No clue what the wind chills were!  The "guys" got up at night to go out and start cars so that nothing would freeze up.  We had the wedding and reception at a church and the dance at the college.  It was sooooooo cold, not many came to the dance, but we still had a great time with family and friends.  Such a beautiful wedding that Epiphany evening.  

New adventures were part of last week.  This past Monday Joel and I got on our laptops, sitting side by side, in an attempt to get appointments for the Covid vaccine.  There were 1400 doses available for seniors in our county.  A lot of seniors here.  We did not expect to get two of the slots available, but alas as we persisted, refreshed, and persisted over and over, we both got appointments!  So last Friday we headed in to a local massive building that used to house Sears, where we joined dozens of others to get vaccinated.  It was well organized with several different stations to process through and appointments every ten minutes.   I was a bit apprehensive about it ~ I have not had a vaccination in at least 25 years, and the Lyme specialist told me at one time that I would not be a good candidate for vaccinations.  Avoid until I couldn't.  She also told me I would never tolerate chemo, BUT I did, so I decided if I could go through chemo with no severe reactions I could do this. Her words came during Lyme and since I no longer have Lyme, it did not apply so much anymore.   I also felt like this vaccination was well worth the risks.   Avoid until I couldn't.  

Joel and I were able to process through together so that was nice.  I signed up online to be part of the CDC study for side effects too.  I receive a text every afternoon that tells me to click on the provided link where I go and answer a few questions.  If your symptoms are severe you will receive a phone call.  I was really tired Friday evening and Saturday (thus no Saturday's Scribbles).  Joel was fine Friday but Saturday he was feeling "draggy" and took a morning and afternoon nap adding more chair time to his routine.  Another nap took place Sunday morning and again Sunday afternoon. He is pretty good now. I dealt first with a headache and full head, then feeling tired, and a bit of brain fog.  I am still dealing with a bit of feeling tired and foggy off and on but it is mild.  Our arms were somewhat achy, just like with tetanus shots.  Like I said, most of my symptoms have left.  We go back the end of March for our second dose. 

Yesterday was Valentine's Day as you know.  We have spent 54 of them together, two before we were married and 52 since.  We are not people who normally exchange gifts on that day, but cards are in order. Our celebration dinner was left over wraps for lunch and a "find your own Sunday night" supper as usual. Yep. I'm thinking we were both still a bit draggy as Joel defines it!

I saw a video from YouTube on Facebook this morning that had me laughing.....and Joel assures me is not sacriligious. And he is an authority.....right??!?  Ha    It definitely is an attempt to find humor in this bitter cold weather!  It is called a Minnesota Doxology but can apply over a lot of the Midwest today!

Minnesota Doxology

So today I am grateful our first vaccines are behind us and we are doing okay, the warm cozy house we live in, our fireplace, wool socks, wool comforter, wool blankets, (get the picture?).....Grateful for a laugh or two as we wait out the artic vortex, grateful for 54 years of Valentines together, for all those we love and care about.  So grateful for a sweet friend who has been checking on us daily since the shots.....grateful for old friendships refreshed and renewed, for our beautiful family, and grateful for so much more..................

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