Both of my daughters have Covid. Eliza got it first and when Hazel and I remained negative, I thought maybe (optimistically? stupidly?) it was a false positive. But when Hazel woke up sick this morning, all magical thinking disintegrated. We went for a Covid test in Medford (we stayed in Ashland last night) and Hazel’s Covid was confirmed. 

I, however, remain negative and am feeling fine. It seems kind of miraculous after spending hours upon hours sealed in a car with the two of them, and I’m not holding out too much hope that it’s going to last, but if it does, I’m attributing it all cold water swimming.

Our original Ashland plans were to meet Angie and her daughter, Aoibhinn, who were also on a road trip and spending the night in Ashland, for supper last night, and then Angie and I would swim in Emigrant lake this morning. Covid put the kibosh on those plans and, after I tested negative this morning, I decided my best bet was to swim in Siskiyou again on my way home. Not only did it have the benefit of being familiar, but Lake Siskiyou is cold and cold water seemed like an even better idea than ever.

And look who I saw when we got there!

It turned out Angie also decided to bail on Emigrant Lake and swim at Siskiyou and without any coordination, we arrived there at the same time. We swam together, but far apart and it was so lovely to be back together swimming through refreshing cold (12 degrees c) water. Here’s hoping it’s my secret weapon.