Often when I leave the comfort and safety of my home, I wonder if I contracted COVID when I return home. The risks I take are calculated. I wear my mask, wash my hands often, use hand sanitizer, and visit stores and restaurants selectively.
Yesterday I took my mom for a drive. We had pizza at a small, empty restaurant that appeared to be clean and that appeared to take the COVID-19 restrictions seriously. Later we got an ice cream and ate it in the car. The ice cream shop similarly had all pandemic restrictions in place.
We had a nice day together as we viewed the beautiful fall colors and quaint small towns. We enjoyed the fresh air. It was good to make time to leave the house to get out and see the world around us.
Last night, tired after the busy day, I wondered if I contracted the COVID virus--fortunately I feel well today and believe we avoided any contagion and still had a good time.
Living with the pandemic hanging over our heades all the time is not simple. We have to make a lot more decisions than we're used to, and there's more worry too. However, with our best efforts to follow safety protocols and make good health calculations--most of us can avoid this risk, and that's important.