Lahaina Update

This is a long one, sorry.

Alas, I am no longer one of the vanishing NOVID species. Until now, six in my immediate circle had never tested positive. Now there are five.

Go figure, this week, after 4 years, I tested positive and am no longer a COVID virgin. In Maui of all places. After racking my brain, I can only trace it to some wonderful gals visiting from Florida for a big 6-0 birthday celebration.

These lovely BLUE DOTS invited us to the party right next door. All outdoors. Traditional Hawaiian Dancers and an Musician/Officiant.

I think I caught it there because the birthday girl kept saying how achy she was from surfing and how she had a sore throat from snorkeling.

She's a school teacher in Sarasota and seemed really depressed because of the book bans and is considering moving to Aspen. I had a long conversation with her because she seemed so sad.

Two days later my whole body ached and I felt a little sore throat.

I texted them all to let them know. They said they were "healthy" and to get well soon. The teacher said she took the test to make sure and tested negative. But I'm sure I caught it from her. Otherwise I'm mystified. I hadn't left the condo since that party because a storm came in, so there was no other way to have caught it. I had the identical symptoms she described. Hubby has no symptoms and tested negative. We’re staying masked and sequestered in separate rooms and on the balcony.

The symptoms were mild, felt tired, saw spots, dizzy. Had a 101 fever for just a couple hours on Thursday. Started Plaxovid, which has been the worst part of this whole experience, giving a horrid taste in my mouth and making me nauseous.

But my bff who caught COVID in Cannes last year said she took one dose of Plaxovid and couldn’t stand it so she stopped and thinks that’s why she stayed horribly sick for four weeks, and she was fully vaccinated!

So I sucked it up. One more day of the twice-a-day-for-five-days doses.

I'm sad I let my guard down and I'm disappointed the teacher felt sick but didn't take extra precautions to protect her friends. But as my other Florida friend said, she lives in Florida and they’re in a parallel reality, so I can’t really fault her, which I don’t.

As Zen masters Armand Beede and Manuel A. Garcia said, all belongs. It's been an interesting experience, and now I can share my wisdom.

Thank God I got my 7th booster two months ago. It would be much worse. I urge you all to get your booster shots and don’t let your guard down.

Meanwhile, below are some photos. Lahaina is still closed to non-residents, so we can’t get near the Banyan Tree, but I hear it’s recovering. A beautiful endangered monk seal has moved onto our beach. He’s so precious. Sleeps on the beach all day then out to eat all night. Wildlife protection have been there guarding him every day until he heads back to the other side of the island. It’s unusual to have them here on the West side.

Lahaina Memorial, Monk Seals, Sparrow in my bowl.

Shout out to my spirit animal Jena Ball I’ve been past the feral kitty colony next door and the food is still being put out, but no kitty sightings yet. So, I included a few shots of the cuties from prior years.

Kaanapali Cat Colony, Maui

Aloha Nui Loa 🌺♥️