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    Home » My House at Thanksgiving

    Betty Has Covid

    October 14, 2022 by Karen 43 Comments

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    This is the true & harrowing story of how against all odds Betty managed to scare Karen even more than that time Betty chased her around the living room with the eye from a potato screaming 'It's a centipede!!'

    Don't worry. I'm O.K. I mean I'm not, I've had a lifelong fear of centipedes which was amplified to genuine phobia by this Earth Hour event. I did however make it through Betty getting Covid O.K.

    Just to recap, Betty is my 87 year old mother. You may recognize her from a few years ago when she sledge hammered through my kitchen drywall. Or more recently when she took a woodworking course and turned her own salt box with lid.

    I know the typical route of a story like this would be to focus on Betty, the elderly woman who contracted a potentially deadly illness.

    But if we're being honest here, and I always am, being worried sick trumps all other sicknesses. So I win.

    Table of Contents

    • The Beginning
    • The Middle
    • The End (but not the end because Betty is O.K.)

    The Beginning

    Thanksgiving always falls somewhere around the middle of October in Canada and it always happens at my home. 13-15 of us bump around each other in my little house before we all sit down to eat 65 minutes or so after I originally called everyone to eat.

    Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli casserole, red cabbage, buns, turnip. Without fail.

    Very occasionally, if one of us has watched an episode of Downton Abbey or some other show featuring civility, we might swap out the Campbells-soup-made broccoli casserole for fresh green beans.

    Just like a real family of fictional lower level royals.

    This year was different though. This year there were only 5 of us at my Thanksgiving dinner with my niece and her husband going to their cottage instead and my other niece spending it with her husband's family.

    I'm not sure why they abandoned me. It's not like the other dinner hosts were giving out prize money or anything. I mean I could understand if my nieces had called me, grief stricken at the choice they were forced to contemplate and ultimately make after being teased and tempted by money.

    I'm so sorry Auntie Karen but there are cash prizes at this other dinner - and little Charlie needs a new cane and a pair of his special shoes that let him walk and move while barely lifting his legs.

    You mean a hockey stick and skates?

    Yes, yes, exactly, I knew you'd understand.

    I mean I GET greed. But wanting to spend 2-4 hours somewhere else? With - other people? Well that's just bullshit.

    Sure. Maybe their new Thanksgiving society doesn't fight and nobody lights their fingernails on fire during dinner but do they have a Gobble off? Or measure each others heads at the end of the meal?

    My guess is no because you don't normally come across that kind of whimsical dysfunction outside of a Ryan Murphy series.

    Plus I've always been a generous and welcoming host. Not all, but certainly most years I've waited until EVERYONE has put down their pie forks before I tell them all to go home because I'm sick of them.

    Suck on that level of graciousness Crawleys.

    Also, not to beat a dead turkey but one year I even gave everyone an hour of contemplation and self reflection when I left the very dinner I was hosting to frantic-pick all the frost tender vegetables in my community garden.

    Since it always comes in the middle of October, Thanksgiving also often comes with the first frost warning. I found this out just as I was about to serve dinner.

    At the time running out the door screaming LUFFALUFFALUFFALUFFALUFFA wearing a pair of slightly singed oven mitts seemed like the right call. It still does.

    As I was saying there were 5 people here on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. We ate, drank, and relaxed after dinner with coffee and Covid tests.

    Just for fun. Because as I've explained, I am fun and my Thanksgiving dinners are fun. And nothing says fun like testing yourself for a potentially deadly illness.

    Until the person sitting next to you gacks up a positive.

    The Middle

    Before we get to the story middle, I think I need to explain the arrangement that was in the middle of the dining room table. As you can see it's now on my foyer tulip table. It had to be moved prior to the actual dinner because it read a little too "would you care to pay your respects to the body?".

    Also it was the size of German Shepherd.

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    Like I said, Thanksgiving around here often comes the same weekend as the first frost warning. That was the case this year. The night before I was to host dinner, a frost advisory was issued and yet again I ran to the garden, this time screaming, FLOWERSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

    I cut off every single bloom from my community garden flower beds then came home and did the same in my front yard. There were a lot of flowers. Good. I can Downton Abbey the shit out of my dining room table with them, I thought.

    Instead I ended up with a 3 tiered monstrosity that blocked everyone's sightline. Looking back on it moving that flower arrangement may have given my mother Covid.

    It was my sister, sitting to my mother's left who was responsible for the positive after dinner Covid test. She had no symptoms but did say she had a bit of a headache.

    This is not abnormal at one of my Thanksgiving dinners so I didn't think anything of it. When she tested positive in our little game of Covid roulette we were stunned.

    Exactly across from Betty was my brother-in-law, who tested positive for Covid the next morning.

    I believe that flower arrangement would have provided at least as much protection as an N95 mask in terms of spittle blockage.

    But I moved those flowers and 3 days later Betty tested positive for Covid.

    The End (but not the end because Betty is O.K.)

    At 6 a.m. my 2 sisters and I all received the same text message from my mother.

    I think I have it.

    Of course we knew what she meant. Although I didn't because I was drooling on the sofa downstairs away from my cell phone because I couldn't sleep in my bed and thought moving would alleviate that. It did.

    Thank you for worrying that my sleep may have been disturbed by all this. It wasn't. Until 8:30 a.m. when I woke up to the phone ringing. Fish Pedicure was calling to tell me that Betty felt really sick and thought she might have Covid.

    I called Betty right away and she sounded like death. Worse than that even, I thought she sounded a bit scared.

    She didn't talk long, she didn't have the energy, but she ended the call by saying she was going to call her doctor.

    WHAAAATTTTT??? O.K., now this is serious. Now I am getting very uncomfortable with everything happening around me. (this is where you can start to sympathize with me for the horrible worry I've had to endure)

    Betty was going to call - the doctor?? This is a woman who has a strict, "If I don't feel better in a week I'll call the doctor" policy. This mantra is often repeated on a week by week basis for 7-8 months or until a bodily fluid starts coming out the wrong colour.

    She does not call the doctor.

    But she did.

    If she had not called the doctor right away there is a very good chance that I would be writing this post from a very different perspective and you would need to feel even sorrier for me and my terrible awful experience with not having Covid.

    Her doctor immediately called in a prescription for Paxlovid and I picked it up. She had the treatment into her within 12 hours of showing symptoms. Paxlovid works by STOPPING the virus from replicating itself in your body.

    It prevents a few hundred virus particles from multiplying into billions. In the 12 hours since first showing symptoms her temperature went from normal to 101, she started coughing and could barely move. She felt nauseated and very weak.

    The sooner you take the drug the better. She took it very soon. All thanks to me and my delivering it. I healed Betty with the power of my Volvo. Which is a 2007 so don't think you have time to stop feeling sympathetic towards me just yet.

    On the second day, Thursday as I type this, Betty is mainly sleeping. Her fever came down a bit today and she could eat some of the turkey soup I made her. Fish Pedicure dropped some flowers and a new box of Covid tests on her porch today and Pink Tool Belt is sleeping at Betty's.

    Betty will probably tell her to get lost in the morning because she's not awake to tell her to get lost right now.

    Of the 5 people at dinner, 3 have Covid and for now I am not one of them.

    I do still have a case of the worried sicks but I popped a bunch of peanut butter cups which completely stop worrisome thoughts from replicating into the billions as long as you chase them with Ruffles and dip.

    At this rate of success I fully expect my Thanksgiving table to be set for only 1 next year.

    Which will give me a very good shot at winning the cash prize.


    For more Thanksgiving shenanigans THIS is what a real Thanksgiving looks like.

    More My House at Thanksgiving

    • The Thanksgiving Dinner Table Setting
    • The Story of the Isolation Thanksgiving.
    • Thanksgiving Ideas
    • Thanksgiving Centerpieces. Some DIY Ideas.

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    1. Benjamin Hepple

      October 17, 2022 at 12:44 pm

      Cute story, but eewww you said trump... 🤡

      I hope Betty and everyone else recovers right away.

      Reply
      • whitequeen96

        October 23, 2022 at 2:23 am

        LOL at your reaction to the word trump!
        I've been away from this site for a couple of months and just dropped back in. Any further updates? I don't see them.

        Reply
    2. Kelliblue

      October 15, 2022 at 5:07 pm

      Ugh. Covid is so stinkin catchable! But use caution, I've heard that Paxlovid can cause it's own problems too. :-(

      Wrote more under tomorrow's post, but my dad got a nasty version of the Rona, and is still VERY sick, very weak. Mom (who has dementia and would be a whole other issue were she to get sick) is still healthy, praise Jesus!

      Glad that Betty is on the upward climb back to health!

      Reply
    3. Laura Bee

      October 15, 2022 at 11:51 am

      Awww, hope Betty is completely recovered soon and back to her hijinks. ❤️⚒️
      Happy thoughts to all who had to deal with it.

      Reply
    4. Kat - the other 1

      October 14, 2022 at 6:11 pm

      Dad's doctor said even after recovering from covid you will (may?) continue to test positive for another 3 months afterwards.
      Just so ya know.

      Reply
    5. Rachel

      October 14, 2022 at 3:37 pm

      You're flower arrangement, no matter how big it is, is gorgeous! And wishes for a speedy recovery to all>

      Reply
    6. Paula G

      October 14, 2022 at 3:12 pm

      So funny. You guys be aware of the dreaded Paxlovid Rebound ( you can google it); you'll need to be vigilant with Betty, who I hope recovers quickly and completely.

      Reply
    7. Marilyn Meagher

      October 14, 2022 at 2:54 pm

      I sincerely hope Betty is feeling better soon! And the. You will be too because you can stop worrying sick! And that flower arrangement is gorgeous! On,y you could make Covid funny.

      Reply
    8. ellen derry

      October 14, 2022 at 1:45 pm

      So sorry about Betty getting it, and do PLEASE keep us posted. I.m sorry for your suffering too, of course. good health to all.

      Reply
    9. Jan Hebert

      October 14, 2022 at 1:17 pm

      Oh wow, Karen. I'm so glad that Betty is doing better. What a scary thing to go through - for all of you! I hope you don't get the virus and that those that did have it recover quickly. I just read yesterday somewhere that using a nasal wash (like a neti pot) helps the symptoms immensely. Just with a saline solution. The article actually said that it can help to avoid ending up in the hospital. I wonder if it can help to avoid getting the virus in the first place? Anyway, take care of yourself and give Betty a hug from all of us! Jan in MA

      Reply
    10. Meg

      October 14, 2022 at 12:19 pm

      Ahhhh noooooo! Your post is funny but in the I'm-laughing-nervously way. Terrifying. Hang in there Betty!!! (And Karen! I would suggest more peanut butter cups for good measure.)

      Reply
    11. Deb from Maryland

      October 14, 2022 at 12:14 pm

      Oh my. The worry is real. I am glad to read that Betty is recovering as planned with the taking of Paxlovid. Sending vibes for her continued recovery. Thank goodness there's the turkey soup to help with that. It is good that you and your sisters are close and live close to each other and your mom. You are the modern day Emma Bombeck for sure. Keep on keeping on. All my best!

      Reply
    12. Gretchen

      October 14, 2022 at 11:33 am

      Oh no! This is not the way anyone envisions a Thanksgiving aftermath. I'm glad the Paxlovid is working. May she regain health quickly and no other family members show up with it (including you)! Just another 'average' Thanksgiving celebration under your belt, eh? Hang in there!

      Reply
    13. Carol

      October 14, 2022 at 11:23 am

      Thank the gods for Paxlovid. My 89 year-old mom has Covid right now, too and Paxlovid is kicking it's ass! It worked well on me a couple of months ago, as well. Cheers to anitvirals!

      Reply
    14. Stephanie L Cinquanta

      October 14, 2022 at 11:10 am

      I too read your post with mixed emotions. You have a gift of making everything ordinary seem hysterical! Like Erma Bombeck! Or Seinfeld! But very sadly, I lost my beloved, 87-year-old mom to covid in 2021, 4 days before COVID vaccines would be availableto anyone. she contracted it at a hospital. So I’m with you, I know worry. And I'm glad you do not know my heartache. I’m glad Betty is well and had access to the very effective medicine. thank you for making me laugh when reading your posts.

      Reply
    15. Paula

      October 14, 2022 at 10:20 am

      Best Wishes to your Mom for a speedy recovery! I live about 75 km northeast of Toronto (south of Lake Simcoe) and we get frost in September 20’s so I can completely relate to your panic! Beautiful area but very short season.

      Reply
    16. Deb

      October 14, 2022 at 9:50 am

      Yikes, I hope Betty recovers as quickly as possible. Scary stuff still to this day and I totally understand being a worrier. Be well. Be safe.

      Reply
    17. em d

      October 14, 2022 at 9:24 am

      Well this is a new blend of emotions for me...laughing my ash off at your descriptions while feeling emotionally nauseous (yes, that's an emotion) with empathy over Betty.
      My mom is 86, and I nearly killed her with isolation that first year...even though she lives at home with my dad, who is not chatty. She said she'd rather croak with covid than do that again.
      Glad there are more therapeutic options these days. And I wish both sides (here in the states) would stop politicizing it all so we can all know what the science actually is and maybe save a few peeps here and there.
      Rant ended. Blessings to your mom!

      Reply
    18. Carrie Anne

      October 14, 2022 at 9:16 am

      Awww I'm sorry to hear about Betty and the rest of your fam that came down with the virus and sending prayers they all feel better soon!
      I have to say that I love these nicknames that you give to your sisters. Obviously you only know what they mean if you've been following you(Lets say subscribe....follow sounds a bit sinister :).......Fish pedicure kills me!! I'm sure they love it! I have nicknames for my 4 sisters as well but they are not as nice!😂
      You know...."Coffee and Covid tests" should really be a song!
      We have Christmas songs how about Karen's Thanksgiving songs? I'd buy that! Lol
      By the way, the spittle blocking arrangement is gorgeous and can I ask how you serve your red cabbage? I have a head in the refrigerator and I don't know what to do with it besides pickling it!
      Hoping you stay well. 🙏
      PS If you get a little lonely next year at that thanksgiving for 1....give me a holler...I'll give you a little competition for that cash prize!!😁

      Reply
    19. Anita

      October 14, 2022 at 8:47 am

      Good morning Karen, we just lost my Father in law to Covid at the Villa. First day 3 seniors tested positive, next day 7, next day 13 seniors plus 2 staff...that was over half the residents in one wing of the building. He was safe because my husband, my brother in law went to get tested each visit before going any further info the building...sadly others didn't. I'm glad you're Mom is getting better. Your Mom is one of the lucky ones.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        October 14, 2022 at 10:05 am

        Very scary. Alas we are not done with this virus yet. Keep pumping Betty full of turkey soup, keep yourself rested and your fingers crossed you might be one of the lucky ones. Hope Betty recovers quickly.

        Reply
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    My name is Karen Bertelsen and I was a television host. In Canada. Which means in terms of notoriety and wealth, I was somewhere on par with the manager of a Sunset Tan in Wisconsin.

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