(Snippets from the frontline)
COVID-19: Being in the “wake”
Sometimes, one of the early symptoms of coronavirus is loss of taste and smell. Tuesday is garbage day, so when I run, being downwind in the “wake” of empty containers reassures me I am not infected.
Many neighbors run, so I intentionally social distance, and try to stay outside their “wake.” Are little virus particles flying off their clothes, or have they just sneezed or coughed? I can’t take a chance! My wife says “Dr. Paranoid.”
Growing up, our 80-something year old neighbor, Mrs. Blakeslee, would make popcorn for us. I always got excited coming home from school smelling the “wake” of her heavy perfume near our front door, knowing there would be popcorn waiting inside. Pavlov’s dog.
Our old TV was always on the blink, so Mrs. Blakeslee would invite my brothers and I over, and of course, make popcorn. One day, my mom dropped in, and heard us continually passing gas (darn popcorn!). We were boys! She was appalled, and made us apologize.
From thereon, TV would not only be interrupted by commercials, but by “Excuse me Mrs. Blakeslee, excuse me Mrs. Blakeslee.”
Even as young boys, we learned wisely, to already practice social distancing.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
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