Regular readers will note that last week was the first time in a long, long time I haven’t posted regularly. As I mentioned last week, I came down with a really nasty virus (not influenza or COVID-19) last Friday, and for a few days I just felt miserable. Worse than miserable actually: completely lethargic. It was a combination of the infection (fever), lack of sleep (largely due to said virus), and not eating enough* (again, due to said virus).

The point is not to dwell on my mystery crud**. But the few days where I was extremely lethargic is something I hope to avoid ever again. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have what I went through just hit you, randomly, every so often. It’s no way to live.

Which is to say, unless Omicron really doesn’t cause long COVID in vaccinated and boosted people***, this pandemic isn’t close to over. And how it is savvy, politically or otherwise, to encourage more long COVID cases by opposing basic protections like masking escapes me.

*I didn’t feel nauseated, just the effort to do all the things to make a very simple meal, including eating it, was considerable.

**Throughout all of this, I also had no runny nose or congestion. Very weird.

***And I’ve seen very little evidence that Omicron behaves like this, though we can hope.