Panic

I rarely get my quotes mixed up.

Yet yesterday in a moment of absolute panic, I did.

The only words that came to mind were:

“He’s back,” and I didn’t have a clue where they originated.

Nor did I care, and of course, the proper adjective was “It’s” not “He.”

The first alert was a front page article, written by Julie Bosman that I read on my digital copy of the NYT advising readers of its expected return.

The portion of the story that awakened me with a stab of fear were words from Dr John M.. Coleman, a pulmonary and critical care doctor at Northwestern Memorial Hospital saying he expected Covid infections to continue to increase this fall and winter.

However, later in the day and much closer to home, I received a disturbing message from my current residence and again I quote:

“We currently have 5 known cases of COVID. Three of these cases are a result of outside contact and the remainder from internal exposure. Fortunately, none are seriously ill.”

And I quickly remembered the isolation of 2021 and the dreadful loneliness caused by the needed protection.

I tried to think positively. My new Macbook Air will be delivered this week. Perhaps I will have ample time to complete “Just Another Love Story.” or

I can finally clean out my wardrobe and make a sizeable donation of very very elderly items. Something long overdue as my favorite daughter will definitely agree.

Or I can admit fear, and permit it to destroy whatever time my Maker has chosen to grant me.

Suddenly, I didn’t care who said, “He’s Back,” because I knew I have choices.

Nor am I the only American who has to make them about another Covid challenge.