An Interruption: the worst day of the year.

A year ago, we were at what we thought was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jessica and I spent a relatively quiet night at home, playing games and watching movies before taking a lovely hike along the coast near Santa Cruz to usher in 2021.

That night, that day…they were pleasant, but a bit sad.

You see, for the past 9 years, beginning in 2012, we’ve had an amazing New Year’s Eve tradition. Every year we rent a house somewhere for three or four days with my best friends from high school and their families. Our four clans gather from across the country–California, Georgia, Connecticut, and, well, Germany currently–sometimes near St. Louis, where we all still have family, and other times in various other locations (NJ, RI, and NY in different years). We cook for each other, play games together, share in the collective task of watching and entertaining the children (who have grown from four the first time we gathered to seven now, with at least one each in grades K-5), catch up on our lives, take some walks, and just generally have the best few days of the year. It’s really my absolute favorite thing. I love these people and I love the relationships I’ve built with their kids over the years (and watching the kids build relationships with each other is fun too).

A zoom through of NYEs past…

So, last year, amidst travel restrictions and safety precautions, it was really hard to have to skip this annual tradition. We talked a few days before the end of the year, and played a game online while chatting on zoom, but it wasn’t the same as having the intensive time together that we usually get.

So, I was sooooo excited when our plans came together this year. When we started talking about it in August or September, there was definitely some skepticism. Above all, there was the fact that all the kids were unvaccinated. But, when vaccines were approved for kids, we all decided we could make it happen, and despite a few hiccups, we found a beautiful place along the Meramec River about an hour-and-a-half from St. Louis to gather.

Yesterday morning, all at our separate family homes in St. Louis, all fifteen of us took home COVID tests. All negative. Our gathering was on! Jess and I arrived first, and just as we finished unpacking, the Davis family pulled in. We took a lovely walk down to the river and then Scott, Bryan, and I played cornhole and tossed a frisbee around for a bit.

The Thibaults arrived, and then the Kaplan-Fay crew. Everyone was there. It was great. Jessica D. made some excellent chili. Jessica T. shared her amazing chocolate pudding with everyone. All seven kids (and Jessica) had an hours-long game of sardines going.

We were just settling into the routines. But then, in the midst of a game of chess with Sam, I felt a slight headache. Then I felt nauseous. I vomited. I lay in bed moaning for a bit. And an hour later, I felt OK. I took a home COVID test that one of my friend’s had brought and the result was…inconclusive. It seemed like a negative, but there was the faintest glimmer of a line where one should appear for a positive test.

We decided I should I isolate for the night and test again in the morning. And, so, this morning I tested again…and got a positive result.

So, now, here I am. Locked in the back room of my parent’s house for the next five or ten days. Instead of my long-awaited New Year’s gathering with friends, I have…myself. Not even Jessica. Not my parents. Just me and this here computer.

Oof. I thought last year was a bit sad. This year, I got a quick taste of “normal” for one afternoon and then — woosh — it was gone.

We’re both vaccinated, boosted, wearing masks when indoors, avoiding crowds as best we can (though hard to do on the airplane). It didn’t work. I really hope I didn’t spread it to anyone else. I guess I’ll know in a few days.

At least my symptoms aren’t bad. After the brief bit of nausea, I’ve had a mild headache on and off. That’s it. That and loneliness. But I don’t think that’s a symptom, just an effect.

Oh well. I guess I’ll pick some netflix show to binge or something.

And worry about whether I got anyone else sick. And worry about whether Jess’s research in London will get delayed. And worry about canceling plans to see my brother next week. And…everything.

But I guess I have time to finish my last blog post about New York. Maybe tomorrow…

Until then, I hope everyone else is having a better NYE than I am. Take care. Wishing everyone a brilliant 2022 to come…

_{PS-Thanks to Katie and Jessica D for a few of the photos used in this post…}