Someone I love has the coronavirus. Thankfully, it’s not the most horrible of cases (she’s at home, for instance), but it sure seems pretty lousy. She said I could write about it on the blog as long as I a) did not identify her and b) did not discuss how she contracted the virus.

Mary: First of all, how are you?

Friend: Pretty much the same. Wait, you have a blog?

Mary: Yea, I’m just getting it going. So when did your symptoms start, and what were they?

Friend: Thursday, March 19. I had a headache and a low level temperature, like 98.9. And a mild cough. They continued throughout the weekend and frankly, we didn’t even know if it was the coronavirus. But four days in I lost my sense of taste and smell, just when that New York Times article came out. Then I was pretty certain.

Mary: What did you do?

Friend: I have some other health conditions I was concerned about, so I called the ER and told them about everything and they whisked me in. They were so professional and they did a pretty thorough workup of all my vitals and thankfully everything was fine. I’m glad I went in because they calmed me down. They said I do have the symptoms of the coronavirus and to stay at home and rest. And to take Tylenol.

Mary: Did they test you?

Friend: No, they said they only test the most serious cases.

Mary: So is your case counted as a confirmed coronavirus case?

Friend: I don’t know. I don’t think so. I mean they took all my information but without the test I don’t think they can count it as a confirmed coronavirus case.

Mary: Has anything changed since you first got it?

Friend: I now don’t’ have any appetite. The only thing that tastes good are smoothies. And I’m drinking lots of really hot tea to keep the lungs open.

Mary: How are you passing the time?

Friend: I’m reading some. In the best of times I’m a news junkie, so that hasn’t changed, unfortunately. I’ve been binging the Hilary documentary on Hulu. And I’m watching Homeland. But really, who cares about the Taliban with all this going on. Oh, and Seinfeld.

Mary: How does it feel to have the virus that the whole world is focused on?

Friend: It’s scary. There’s just so much uncertainty. I’ve read of some cases that crash in the second week rather than get better. But really, you just go day by day and focus on getting better.

Mary: I assume you are sequestered from the rest of your family.

Friend: Yes, and they are sequestered as well. I’ll tell you, this virus has given me a unique feeling –a bad unique feeling–I have never had before. The bottom line is I don’t wish this on anyone.

Mary: Be well, my friend.