Notes from a Covid testing drive thru
By: Mark A. Schrader
Tags: Memoir, 2020, Memories, Life, Coronavirus

Memories of place and time

Photo by Iewek Gnos on Unsplash

Thursday

I’m in a place today where I didn’t ever expect to find myself. I’m sure someday I will again. It was inevitable.

…

I drove into the empty parking lot about 45 mins before the testing was scheduled to set up, and now there are still 30 minutes or so to go. The few cars that were already here had positioned themselves as if they knew what they were doing. I didn’t know where to place myself, as this was an unfamiliar situation. The first three cars created a line in the middle of the lot, so I’ve joined them now, a few cars back with a few behind me.

This is a parking lot I’ve used before but certainly not for this purpose. When the kids were younger, the light rail station here was closer to our old house. The rail line took us to wondrous destinations, including sports venues and museums. We also usually found ice cream along the way.

…

For the record, though a virus has shut down my house and my personal productivity for most of this week, I don’t think it’s The virus. I’ve also read that the virus affects everyone differently, and this year we need to be sure.

…

Across the street, I see a shopping center we liked to visit before the last move. Not much time has really passed, but it feels like ancient history.

I see the shop where we used to take our cars. I can’t tell what it is now from this angle. That’s where my old truck stayed parked out back for a few weeks when they couldn’t figure out how to fix him.

And there is the national sandwich chain that we would try to get supper from some nights. That didn’t work out 80% of the time because they would tell us they were “out of bread.”

My favorite spot over there is the record store beside the post office. It is a bit of an older fashioned real record store with all sorts of wonders inside. My highlight for that store was seeing the Avetts play a small “show” for one of their album releases. I was out for a sick day earlier in the week and saw the event pop up on social media. It was a tiny event, so I got my ill self over to the store to get our tickets so we wouldn’t miss our chance. My wife was in the “any minute now” point of her pregnancy with our middle child. We went anyway. The band sounded great because they always do. We stayed behind the crowd (near the front of the store). We weren’t in any condition to rush to the stage. As much as we love the band, the best part was talking to Jim when he saw my wife and brought her a chair.

…

I really don’t feel 100% right now, but I’m vastly improved from this weekend when my temperature starting going up. Yesterday I was exhausted, today I’m tired, and I don’t know if this is illness or the stress of possibilities.

We already missed my Mom for Thanksgiving. I wanted to see her, but I know my young family is active, and the kids were in school (at least part of the week). She’s doing well in Stage 4. I don’t want us to be a negative factor. She still makes me feel better every time we talk.

My Dad and I canceled our Christmas lunch yesterday by mutual agreement. Just too many uncertainties. Even the usual Christmas visit with the in-laws is no longer on the calendar.

…

Now that the car line appears to be above 50 deep behind me, I see some setup taking place, and someone is waving to the cars to move to a new starting point and tightening up the line.

Time to be ready.

…

MAS

Sunday: test negative (whew…exhale)

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