My motto continues to be, “a 5k a day keeps the doctor away.” Yesterday’s flu shot should also help. Fortunately, I remain healthy when others are not as lucky. My sister, for example, has tested positive for Covid, although she’s two-thousand miles away. Thankfully, her symptoms are mild. I’m not really sure what keeps one person healthy over another. Running only exposes me to those airborne germs around the homeless camps, but somehow many seem to remain unaffected despite the filth around them. It’s impossible to avoid the virus regardless of the precautions taken. My sister is very religious, so even that doesn’t help. It’s like playing Russian Roulette and not knowing when the gun is going to go off. 

I certainly don’t want to live in fear, but the pandemic has now taken my son’s job and my sister’s good health. It’s hitting close to home, yet I’ve certainly not been one to follow the rules. I’ve flown twice, eaten in restaurants, stayed in hotels, traveled to heavily affected areas like Florida, and been with friends and family. The gun has not fired! What is keeping me safe? I’m not an optimist, having awakened many times with fear of symptoms. I remain convinced that I cannot avoid the dreaded bug regardless of how many times I scrub my hands, utilize a mask, or avoid contact with others. I live in a downtown Portland apartment building that only increases my chances of exposure. Maybe Covid wants nothing to do with a runner, regardless of how slow they move? Maybe it hates exercise as much as I do?

We insist on making more travel plans, convinced that restrictions will eventually be lifted. We’ve worked our entire lives for a chance at retirement travel together, so we remain stubborn about giving up and staying home. I think I’d rather be on a cruise ship where temperatures are at least monitored than in an apartment building. You certainly can’t hide from this health threat or flee from fate. Even with a 5k a day routine, I can feel the wear and tear of time on my body. Realistically, there’s only so much time left to be able to do the things we want in life. Coronavirus is just another obstacle, and it threatens us like a gun to the head.