FOMO and Cartoon Pajamas

• Lori Palminteri
• Uncategorized
• April 21, 2022

Alas, readers, I write from my sickly bed. Tired and annoyed. Anxious and also tired. Did I say tired? God, what are other words for tired? If only I wasn’t so fatigued.

Yes, on Easter Sunday my throat was bothering me after working a casino over the weekend. This often happens to me in casinos, because the air is very dry and since cigarette smoking is allowed indoors, my sinuses become easily irate. Before going to my sisters house for the holiday where I’d be reunited with my little ones and folks, I did a self Covid test to be safe, and it came up negative.

My niece (who possible gave me Covid back in December) was coughing, but as energetic as ever. If she wasn’t so impossibly cute, the way her eyes turn into little half moons when she smiles, I’d be mad at her. But I can’t be mad at her face. I figured I probably had a sinus infection. Because my right ear was throbbing. This is a routine case for me, since I was a kid. I get a sinus infection coupled with strep throat and/or an ear infection. I don’t think I’ve ever met an adult who gets ear infections as frequently as I do. And they are so uncomfortable, if not plain painful.

My face/head was so congested, I was able to pop my ears by holding my nose and blowing air. Only this made the entire room spin and I experienced vertigo for a half hour or so. I did get antibiotics for my ear/possible strep throat. I was hopeful in a couple days, all my ailments would clear out. Because on Thursday, I was going to a Jack White concert with three of my best friends.

Jack White is one of my favorite musicians alive. I love his music and have had an infatuation with him since I was in high school. I have seen him live before, and he puts on a hell of a show. I got the tickets using my Capital One Rewards (which I just found out is a thing I can do). They even upgraded our seats a section! Oh man, I was so excited. To be rocking out to one of my favorites with some of my favorites. What fun!

On Tuesday, I decided, for the sake of safety, I’d Covid test myself again having been exposed to my coughing niece. I really didn’t think I had Covid because I don’t really have Covid symptoms. No cough, no fever, no headache. Sore throat, ear infection, congestion, sinus pressure, and a weird dull pain in only my right kidney (I don’t know what this is and think it’s probably unrelated). But the fated test showed that I did have Covid! Blast!

Additionally, I had to cancel a show and further plans to hike with the boyfriend over the weekend. Ah, well. I’d rather be bubbled off than to get my friends sick (and especially not get Jack White sick). But how I’ll miss it!

Instead, I mostly sleep, drink fluids and cook soups and do my remote work between napping. I lounge in my cartoon pajamas. I have multiple different cartoon pajamas, from Looney Tunes to Aladdin. And when I glance at myself in the mirror, pale and puffy, skinny with uncombed hair, in my child like pajamas, I both look and feel childlike. Somewhat helpless.

The worst of it is the ear pain. It makes it so hard to concentrate on anything. It also makes it hard to sleep when that’s literally all you want to do. Again, I think this is unrelated to Covid, and just my ongoing ENT problems (I have a deviated septum and sinus polyps).

On the bright side of things, I hope this brush with the virus allows my body some immunity for the rest of 2022. And I can go on with my life living, seeing family and friends, going to concerts, performing gigs, hiking and all that. Just as I have before. First the healing. Then, the staving off the stay at home crazies. Tune in next week. A healthier Lori is on the other side.