Oh boy. I thought all I wanted for Christmas was my four front teeth. Then came three unpleasant surprises.

First, the dentist had an earlier opening. Yay! But then I was informed my insurance had maxed out, and the crowns would cost $2,000. Yikes!

Then, just a few days before Christmas, I found out I’d been exposed to COVID. High ho, high ho, for testing we all go. James cried and fretted all the way to the urgent care center, and again when we got into the room with the nurse. Props to Nurse Delia at the Lehigh Valley Health Network facility on Pumping Station Road in Quakertown. She handled James’ whines and tears and managed to do the test without a repeat of the nosebleed he had the first time he was tested.

So some of our plans were canceled, and some were in limbo. I was determined to enjoy the time anyway. Then Erick started having stomach pain. He has had gastric issues all his life. Another doctor visit, and lab tests meant James and I spent the morning and early afternoon in the car. We came home, and I made lunch, and then I took a nap. My optimism needed to rest.

The next day was worse. I’ve mentioned before that I hate waiting. For anything. Then I received a message from college; I did not pass my fall courses, and so cannot use financial aid for the winter or spring sessions.

So now the accounting certificate is going to the back burner. I will try again in the summer. Trying to do everything is both time consuming and soul killing.

By dinnertime, I was trying to remember that I was happy to be at home. But soon things began that reminded me of what I love.

My sons. Despite their 13-year age difference, and Erick’s assertion that he co-parents James with me, they spat and play and banter like any close siblings.

We received negative COVID test results Dec. 24 and ran out to do some quick last minute shopping. It felt good to be out and about.

Writing. I took an extra Christmas Day assignment for the paper, because it was important and fell neatly between when the boys left with their father and the time I needed to go to my sister’s house.

Making things. I gave dog toys to the owner of the Three Husketeers Rescue. (Erick LOVES huskies). She was thrilled, and it turns out she has been buying my toys from Doggy Dao & Cat’s Meow. She gives one to every new adoptee! And I am very thankful for the sweatshirt and calendar.

For Christmas, Erick gave me a set of Rembrandt pastels. When he was in Charter Arts, he borrowed my pastels, and somehow between school and moves, they were lost. I already have photos I want to turn into paintings.

So this Christmas, I was reminded of what I love.

Then came Dec. 26. The second day of Christmas, Boxing Day, the first day of Kwanzaa. I was expecting my daughter and her boyfriend in the afternoon. I cleaned, did yoga and cleaned some more and felt progressively worse as the morning went on. I still had one home COVID test. I took it, and almost immediately, the line indicating COVID came up.

I reread the instructions and was a little relieved to see that the positive line could show up then fade during the 15 minutes waiting time. It didn’t fade. I did.

By the afternoon, I was spending more time napping than being awake. I could be up for 20 minutes to half an hour, then I would have to lie down.

I arranged for my daughter and her boyfriend to exchange gifts with the boys on the front steps. I wanted to get a rapid test, but the LVHN pre-registration line was not open until Monday, and CVS’s test sites were full and not taking appointments. So I rested. And contacted the people I spent time with. And fretted. And rested, and wrote, and rested, and wrote.

By the next morning, I woke feeling a little more alert. That was good, because I was parked on the street and needed to move my car. I started coffee and made breakfast for myself and James. I was walking upright, but my balance was more fragile than usual, and twice I had to put a hand on the wall for support. By the time the car was moved and breakfast was ready, I was happy to sit down. Coffee helped.

We were fortunate to be third in line at the LVHN drive-up test center on Emrick Boulevard. The staff members are awesome. James still freaks out at the tests, because of the nosebleed he had with the first one. Erick climbed in the backseat, and held James while the nurse did the swab. James cried, but it was over quickly.

By the afternoon, I decided to climb into bed. I was too alert to sleep, but couldn’t focus on much of anything. If I sat up, I would cough. If I talked or coughed, I felt worse. I worried for the people I spent time with on Christmas, though I had stayed masked for most of it. And I felt thankful for the friends who reached out to see how I was feeling, or offered help.

And Sam from Bonn Place Brewing. I pick up my Willow Haven Farm Share there. When I was waiting for my previous lab test, I called and asked them to give it away, because I didn’t want to risk infecting anyone. Sam texted me while we were in line at the test center. He had refrigerated my box and offered to drop it off at my home. There are truly awesome people in the world, and especially here in Bethlehem.