A.k.a. doing long-distance under one roof
Freezer meals consumed: 10
Uber Eats orders: 3 (Indian, Burgers, Pizza)
Minutes spent staring at the ceiling: 344
Hours of Netflix watched: 42
Hours spent on hold with NSW Health: 2
Amount of times NSW Health disconnected the phone call whilst on hold: 4
Hours spent on hold with pathology for test results: 6
Hours spent on hold with pathology returning any results: 0
Games of Jenga played: 2
Games of Jenga lost: 2
Youtube workouts done: 4 (cardio, yoga, pilates) Books read: 0.75
Puzzle pieces completed by me: 12
Puzzle pieces completed by Man: 988
Tissues used: 40 (of which half for runny noses and half for wiping tears of frustration and desperation)
For 2.5 months we have been counting down the days, holding on, planning, dreaming, fantasising, anticipating. What a grand Christmas holiday this was going to be! Oh how we deserved it after another year with again much separations, and other trials and tribulation that military life brings. These glorious two weeks of relaxation would be spent on a friend's farm, followed by a couple days of fun in the capital, followed by ten days at Man's family who he has not seen face-to-face for two years due to closed domestic borders and lockdowns. Ten days of having his wonderful mum cook and care for us and just relaxing in a way one can only ever truly relax when home with parents. Reading books and drinking teas. Strolling over the property and watching the horse, dogs and chickens. Cuddling the grandparents. Having our dog Maxi play with her best friend Ikey. But.... a nasty little virus had other plans for us, and tens of thousands Australians. The timing could not have been more ironic; we have been fine throughout this pandemic for years, and fine during our separation, but Man caught covid just a few days before my arrival in the city he currently resides in for an eight-month course. Some idiot thought nightclubbing after a positive test result would be a grand idea, and thus ruined the holidays for thousands of people, as the contagious Omicron variant spread like wild-fire. Man's neighbours caught it, as well as some colleagues, so he was 'lucky' enough to pick it up from one of them as an early Christmas gift.
Dog and I arrived at his apartment on 18 Dec after a seemingly endless (nine hour) drive, and enjoyed a tired but loving reunion. An intimate reunion, as you can imagine... So intimate, that the little Omicron buggers very easily and happily made their way into my sinuses. The next day we were told the negative news: Man was positive. We immediately kicked into isolation gear; Man locked himself in his bedroom for a week. I disinfected the house and took the kitchen, living room and spare room. Whenever Man had to go use the bathroom, he wore a face mask, gloves, and Glen20'ed every surface.
And suddenly we were doing long-distance again, but under one roof. We communicated via Skype as if we were states or countries away, watched series together online, sent loving text messages and virtual hugs. So close, yet so far! But all our thorough precautions came too late and my test returned at the end of the week: positive. This will be the running joke of Christmas 2021 for many: ''what did you get for Christmas?''. ''Covid''. At least Man and I got to continue our isolation together.... And thanks to the vaccinations our symptoms were mild to moderate. Man had a flu-like period of three days and I only experienced a week of mild cold-like symptoms.
For me personally, Covid was more a mental illness than a physical one. I would like to say I handled my isolation with grace, patience and acceptance. But there were lots of tears, and a full-on boxing match with the couch (I won!). During our week of isolating from one another, I found purpose in cooking for Man and putting lovely meals and grog (the traditional Dutch medicine of tea, rum and lemon) in front of his door, and keeping the house neat and tidy, as well as desperately trying to regain some Christmas spirit by
decorating. Thank God for online deliveries! With the courtesy of Kmart a bunch of tacky plastic Santa's and Snowman's, candles, sparkly napkins, golden plates and a mini Christmas three arrived to make our iso-home a tad bit more festive. But once Man was released from his shoe-box-sized prison, I had a safe space to collapse under the weight of the disappointment of ruined holiday. Mood swings, boredom, mild depression and a third-life crisis (too young for a midlife crisis, too old for a quarter-life one) followed. Poor Man, as he had to cop the screaming that was directed at the pathology & NSW Health people, who were of course not in the room.... Mind you, I have the greatest respect for all these health professionals working around the clock during this massive flare-up of cases, but if you are waiting for test results which determine whether you can spend Christmas with loved ones, the frustration and impatience overrule that respect and appreciation. It's been one hell of a Christmas!
Whilst I am writing this, we are sitting out our very last day in isolation. We will be on time to spend New Year's with the family, what a blessing! My heart goes out to all of those still in quarantaine, or - even worse - those still awaiting test results. Nothing worse than not knowing! My heart also goes out to all the lab workers, nurses and doctors pulling double-shifts and risk getting sick themselves. But mostly, my heart is filled with compassion for those who have it way, way worse. Think of the Netherlands in full lockdown: those women and men in domestic violence situations confined to their homes. Those poor families with little children in a small flat on level 10, with no tellies or computers and no option to take them to the park or playground. The lonely elderly spending the holidays without hugs from grandchildren. The people in Australia separated from loved ones over Christmas and New Years, still waiting for their test results (current wait time: six days, and raising). The people in second- and third-world countries without enough vaccinations and a proper healthcare infrastructure. Man and I are lucky. So lucky. We are lucky to have each other, to have a fridge full of food, a house full of decorations, and good health. Ha, hindsight is a wonderful thing - I wish I remembered these little pearls of wisdom during my lockdown-meltdowns. My Christmas wish for next year is that the only thing melting down will be snowmans...
Let's hope for a healthy 2022 with high vaccination rates and open borders! Stay safe!