Vacation Interruptus

 

Well, it was bound to happen in these times of COVID.  

The Husband and I left for the Ohios last Monday.  This trip was a long, long-planned annual visit to see friends, family, and of course, "Shrine of the Family and Ancient Locations," as we like to call it. 

Monday, we had dinner and drinks with friends, no issues there, although someone got very loud and very drunk.  Not me, not the husband. Enough said.

Tuesday, we shopped, bought, and acquired "stuff" that which we cannot get here in our self-imposed exile in Maryland. So that was good. 

Tuesday, we had dinner with more beloved friends at a favorite place. Delightful!

Wednesday, we made a trip to tour neighborhoods in Cleveland Heights, and Shaker Heights, that we are looking at, should the near future take us there. And we spent the day visiting those Ancient locations of my youth. And while it seemed like just yesterday for Cookie, let's face it, that was in the previous century.  

We do have an affection for Lomond and Sussex neighborhoods in Shaker.  We both got a huge neighborhood hard-on for the Euclid Heights neighborhood of Cleveland Heights. Both the husband and I were in love with the location and the feel of the neighborhood.  So much so that we literally moved emotionally. 

We visited with family, ate at our favorite deli, then headed to Columbus.  By this point we were exhausted, so we got pizza and headed to the hotel suite we chose to pamper ourselves. 

That's when we got the text.

Our friend "Myrt" texted us to say that her husband, Horace, who was fine the night before at dinner, woke up sneezing his head off, running a fever and sick, and tested positive for COVID. 

That meant we called everyone in Cleveland that we had a contact point and let them know.  I texted the doctor while The Husband spoke with Myrt, asking about Horace.  Then we called all the people we were going to see and canceled those plans.  

We reinforced to Myrt and Horace that we were grateful they called, and despite her saying "you probably hate us...", no, we love you all the more.  But I did point out that Mryt and Horace were going to buy us a good steak dinner the next time we are back home. 

So we sat and brooded, mulled over options.  We are fully vaxed, still, we were worrying. Was the exposure long enough, could it have been passed in conversation? We shared no meals, but...

In the end, we made the call to get in the car in the morning and drive the seven hours back to Baltimore. 

No fun. 

The whole way back we were messaged, texted, and were otherwise contacted by friends. telling us we made the right decision.  I mean no one wants to be with someone who possibly could expose them to COVID - Cookie would certainly not want that. 

Still, our disappointment was evident.  

We told ourselves that at least we could get the dogs back early, we missed them something awful, and we did get our points back from the hotel without any type of bureaucratic kerfuffle.  Face it, I said, they were glad we were leaving before we got everyone sick there, too. 

And yes, we are making plans to go back later in the summer, and for longer. Still, it was quite a blow in the present. 

So now we wait, six full days before we can take a test to see if we test positive. If we do, may it be mild. Then it's another 10-14 days in total isolation to clear the virus.  Good thing we like each other. 

But the whole thing crystallized one important thing - if we were living there, this wouldn't have robbed us of a vacation.  Our friends would be people we could again see all the time. And we wouldn't have to bumble about in a car for all those hours. 

Moreover, we could be back home where we yearn to be and belong. 

So COVID may score one on us, but in the next year, Ohio, here we come.