When we were out to dinner on Saturday night at Lindo Michoacan, I had mentioned to the hostess it was Tom’s birthday, thinking he might get a complimentary drink or dessert. Moments before the staff came to our table, they celebrated a little girl who also had a birthday on December 23.
The waitstaff sang the birthday song at her table after they’d placed an oversized sombrero on her head. When Tom saw this, he said, “Oh, that hat must be dirty from being on so many heads!” I shrugged it off. We’ve often been exposed to things others have handled, sick or not. I’ve often thought about those pagers you get in restaurants while waiting to be alerted that your table is ready.
Moments later, they came to our table; they handed Tom a complimentary Mexican dessert, plopped the oversized sombrero on his head, and sang the song. Trying to be a good sport, Tom went along with it, although it was evident that he was horrified he had that germy hat on his head for what proved to be no more than three minutes.
He ate the dessert, and we continued the lively conversation with Richard. Yesterday, three days later, he started sneezing like crazy, with his nose running incessantly. Most likely, it’s a cold, but the question in our minds is, “Did he catch a cold from the sombrero?”
There is no other location we’ve been to since we arrived except for Costco and Smith’s Marketplace. He certainly could have caught it in either of those two locations.
I got out my arsenal of cold treatment products: zinc, Vitamin C, Tylenol (Paracetamol), and a twice-a-day nasal spray. When Tom grew up in a large family, they didn’t use Kleenex. Instead, he learned to “sniff it back up” rather than blow his nose. As a result, he refuses to blow his nose and sniffs every 30 seconds.
Need I say, the constant sniffing is very annoying, but I don’t say a word. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Tom, I am not implying you are an “old” dog but more a mature dog with well-established habits that I can’t change, especially not by nagging, which I prefer not to do.
Fortunately, he sleeps on his right side at night, and I sleep on my left, so we aren’t facing one another. Plus, the bed here is king-sized, which helps us keep our distance under these circumstances. I hope I don’t get it, and I am making every effort to avoid doing so.
We do not expect this cold to be Covid or RSV. He has no apparent symptoms of either. So far, he has no cough, sore throat, or headache. These days, after the pandemic, it’s easy to surmise one may have something more severe than a simple cold. We are keeping a close eye on his symptoms.
Did he catch the cold from the sombrero? Perhaps. Perhaps not. We’ll never know for sure.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, December 27, 2013:
He probably caught something on the airplane or at the Union Christmas party. Lots of cold and flu in Minnesota…
Vikki, the cold started a week after he returned from Minneapolis. It appears the incubation period is two to three days. So we are thinking he caught it after he returned. Just a thought!
Thanks for writing and Happy New Year!
Jess & Tom
Covid is 5-10 days incubation. Not sure about flu or rsv. Could also be from being surrounded by the restaurant workers singing possibly if one was ill or asymptomatic, but my guess is the plane or party. I don’t think it was the hat.
So sorry Tom is ill! I don’t think it’s from the Sombrero though, but more likely his plane flight or get together with his former coworkers. Covid is still around, in addition to RSV (more & more older adukts getting it) & the flu. It’s still within the time frame of exposure to covid going back to his trip. I would test anyway just for peace of mind. I hope he’s better soon & that you stay healthy!
Kindly,
Lisa
Hi Jess, get Tom a Covid test.
The symptoms vary now from the Omicron variant we had before.
We’ve just had Covid again and it was totally different this time. No sore throat or cough.
Very unpleasant.
Take care Kim
I’m sorry to hear that TOM got sick. It could be just about anything. but, honestly, this was one of the most humorous blogs – I love your writing Jess you should write. Your verbiage is so fun ” Tom, I am not applying you an old dog LAMO. Since I went to high school with Tom I can attest we are mature Old dogs. Thanks for making my day
Bob
In my younger days it was always 7 to 10 days.
He more than likely caught it in Minnesota as it’s been going around here. Maury was sick for 8 days and still has a lingering cough. Keep your fingers crossed you do not “catch” it. I’ve still got my fingers crossed and so far so good, Maury has not passed his cold on to me. We leave for LA on Friday morning to see the Rose Ball Parade, Catalina Island, etc. Be well!
Peggy, I thought I had escaped the virus but now I am coughing but feel fine otherwise. You lucked out that it bypassed you. Hope you had fun at the Rose parade and Catalina. I went to that when I was a kid and lived in California.
Much love to you both,
Jess & Tom