Brother Rat (what we call classmates at VMI, a very sacred term) of mine asks, “Do you know anybody who has actually had COVID19?”

“Well as it turns out,” I say,” I do. Me.”

I’m in about Day #7 of COVID19 and doing fine.

How did this happen, Big Red Car?

That, dear reader, is a mystery.  Here are the facts:

 1. My wife (who tested positive first) and I took to the road to visit My Perfect Granddaughter No 2 in Savannah in June and stayed for a month.

 2. We drove the 1200 miles straight through in one day stopping only to re-fuel (elaborate ceremony of using paper towel to hold nozzle followed by orgy of hand sanitizer), stopped in Hampton Hotels to go to the bathroom, brought sandwiches. Took right at 20 hours.

 3. Came in contact with a housekeeper, nanny, night nurse — never closer than six feet.

 4. Went to the beach several times at Tybee Island with My Perfect Granddaughter No 1, with her family including My Perfect Granddaughter No 2, and by ourselves. Never encamped closed than twenty feet from anybody.

 5. Stopped at a produce stand twice, all masked up followed by hand sanitizer. We blew through some hand sanitizer. Washed all fruit.

 6. Seems like my wife contracted it on or about the 4th of July and I got it 2-3 days later.

What does it feel like?

I had all the right package of symptoms: headache, fever, chills, painful eyes, snotty nose, drainage, dry cough, aches, cottony head, diarrhea.

All the symptoms are very mild, so mild that if I were not looking for some of them, I wouldn’t have noticed them.

I get a chill every night right at 7:30 PM on the nose.

It’s a very mild case thus far — this is where we knock on wood, you and me.

I sleep twelve hours a night, but I have to force myself to do so. I get up at 4:30 AM and read for a half hour.

I sleep peacefully, no dreams — which is odd.

How has it limited you, Big Red Car?

Yesterday, I hauled 127 pound sacks of peat moss. I am rebuilding two planters.

I thought they were 60 pounds, so when I struggled, I thought I was feeling weak. Oh, no. Here it comes.

I cut them open with a machete and saw they were 127 pounds and wet, so I feel OK. With the water weight, probably played at 150 pounds.

I am pacing myself, so I didn’t try to finish the work and it is hot — 100F. I did clean the pool also and that is good work if you can get it. I get into the pool so it’s not hot.

I do seem to be using my thesaurus more when writing, so maybe I am not quite as sharp as usual, but again I am looking for stuff.

So, the bottom line is — not much.

I do feel a little fuzzy at times, but every symptom I have is treatable with over the counter remedies, which I have not used. I did take some Tylenol.

I take a lot of vitamins and always have. I’ve been taking zinc.

What else, Big Red Car?

I find it funny, ironic funny, that my virus came from China, my thermometers came from China, my pulse/oximeter (measures your pulse plus the percentage of oxygen in your blood, if it goes below 90%, you go directly to the hospital) is from China.

I do not like China. It is personal now.

Don’t cry for me, Argentina. I am going to be fine, but now you can say you know somebody who has had COVID19.

Now, here’s the message — YOU be careful. I was careful and look at me. 

Savannah trip? Maybe not the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

There is going to be an end to this COVID19. This will pass. But, be careful. Out.