WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR DECEMBER 2020

SuzieQ
I won't be arrogant and tell you what to do, but I will answer your question which was "What would you (I) do?"

I would do what I did last year or the year before. I refuse to let politics overrule science and control my life and take the pleasure out of living. You are right that the contact and food are of concern. In my opinion, it is the #1-way virus is spread and this comes from my former neurologist/virologist, rheumatologist, and also my neuro-otologist, all three world-renowned scientists. While coronavirus is spread by coughing or sneezing, this way is less likely than contact. Having almost died from the zoster virus and suffer permanent nerve damage including left-side brain sag, in my opinion, fear is killing more humans than the sars2/coronavirus. I would fear getting a serious case of intestinal flu or food poisoning, or even a bad cold, from going to a party as you described 100 times more than this weakened virus. If you didn't get the super-duper flu shot this year that covered the killer flu that appeared on the scene last fall, then I would fear that strand of flu 1000 times more than covid. It has a much lower rate of survival especially for those under 65.

If your immune system is strong, then the chances of you having any real effects from this virus are very low. I have a highly compromised immune system, but with antiviral therapy and vitamin and herb regimen, my immune system doesn't waste most of its energy on blocking the zoster (the anti-viral does this), instead, it blocks flu, colds, allergies, and all these new viruses very effectively. I haven't had flu and only one minor cold since I have been on antiviral therapy and it has been 15 years. Before that, I had fever blisters 6 months of the year, two or three colds, and at least one serious case of the flu yearly. I started getting yearly flu shots when I hit 60 as well as shingles vaccines. With that and the antiviral, I don't live in fear and carry on much the same as always except I wear a mask in stores just to put others at ease. Otherwise, I refuse. Not going to wear a mask when out walking because I fear covid flying through the air, turning corners, or jumping up off the sideway and getting me. I am not even worried about someone, unmasked, sneezing three feet away, especially if they look away.

I was invited to a party this evening. I won't go even though the food is being catered in and individually served and other precautions, because I don't like some of the people going this year plus it is near my bedtime. I didn't go last year for the same reasons plus several had colds. No one has a cold this year so I think it safer than last year medically, but I am still not going just because I have decided life is too short for being around certain people.

Your party sounds like fun and yes I personally would go, but if any doubt entered my mind, then I would cancel. The stress of fear cancels out any fun from socializing. Remember this is me and I wouldn't want you or anyone else to do what I would do. I would probably eat beforehand, put some snacks in my pocket, and take my own drink. If I had to wear a mask and stay 6 feet away, couldn't hug old friends, then I would stay home and do an online party. No fun for me and highly unsociable with all the guidelines now laws, punishable by jail time in my state. I believe in sound medical science as it comes from those studied in virology, medical text, and not the news media or government-sponsored organizations that have a political motive.

So I encourage all to think about what you did before 2020 when there was handshaking, kissing, no mask-wearing, double-dipping was common, no hand sanitizer insight, hands hurriedly washed and dried on a community hand towel, etc. Dripping noses being wiped with the back of a hand and then used to scoop up community chips and no one thought anything about many at the party getting bad colds, flu, or pneumonia days later. Did you go to parties then? Now with distancing (nothing social about it), mask-wearing, and more frequent hand sanitizing (how be it still far from what it needs to be), will you not attend a party from fear of covid when in times past you didn't fear other killer viruses? Perhaps we are all wiser now and should forego any holiday parties and prepare for the promised 100-day lockdown coming Jan. 20 for those in the USA.

If I could snap my fingers and make covid disappear within the hour, would you still go to the party? If so would you still mask up and refrain from hugging old friends? Would you still take your own hand sanitizer? Would you still fear potluck dishes? Would you fear your friend getting over a cold? Would you fear covid wasn't really gone? Would all your fears be gone with covid? When covid is gone will you fear the next more powerful virus?

Since this site is dedicated to fitness and health, I encourage all of you to be more diligent than ever about your health and fitness. Don't forget your mind also needs a good workout and I see many of you doing that with puzzles, crafts, reading, writing, etc. Stay strong ladies!

Wishing you all the best, Fae