If it’s Wednesday — Golf. Usually.

All right. Here’s the deal. I knew we wouldn’t be able to play golf on Monday. as my daughter Jenny and I were flying back from WriterCon that day, but I still had high hopes for Wednesday.

I’m afraid it didn’t quite work out that way. Due to the holiday weekend, the earliest flight we could get out of OKC was 7:00 p.m. Monday evening. To avoid the LAX traffic, we chose to make our round trip from Orange County’s John Wayne Airport. Yes, we knew it had a curfew. Yes we knew it would be close. But our flight out of Phoenix was scheduled for 7:30 p.m (Thank you two hour time change), so we would get back to the OC before 9 p.m. and well before the 11 p.m. curfew. We even arrived a few minutes early into Phoenix. So no problem, right?

Wrong! As soon as we turned on our phones, Jenny got a message that our flight to Orange County had been cancelled. Still we had options, Ontario, CA, Long Beach, CA, or even, if necessary, LAX. After an hour in line at customer assistance, we found out the earliest we could get out to any of the airports was 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. (Crap.) Plus, on the flight to Phoenix, both of us started coughing and sneezing despite the N 95 masks we were wearing on every airplane and in every airport and hotel lobby on the trip. Also despite the fact we had gotten all of our COVID vaccinations and boosters. Being an old fart, I was eligible for all of ‘em.

The airline put us up at a nearby hotel and gave us food vouchers for the airport. The hotel had a free shuttle, and we were checked in by about 9 p.m. Their restaurant would remain open until 10 p.m., so we counted our blessings, took our bags to our room, and came down for a nice light dinner and cool refreshing beverages, again wearing our N 95 masks between each sip or bite.

Back up in the room, I took a hot bath and Jenny went right to sleep. I thought the hot steamy air might help my sinuses. It didn’t. I awoke every hour until 6 am when I could no longer pretend I was sleeping. Jenny didn’t sleep much better.

An hour later, I went down to get a bottle of water and some iced tea and to ask at the desk about check out time. I was told it was 11 a.m. and that the shuttle departed at 11 and every half hour thereafter. This should give us time to get a little brunch at the airport, so fine. We were through security by 11:30 a.m. and sat down by our gate (masks firmly in place and getting moister by the minute from sneezing for me and coughing for Jenny, whose throat was much sorer than mine.

After an hour, I decided to explore the food options and decided on a hamburger place for me. Jenny was not hungry. Hurt her to swallow. While I was in line I saw a guy sitting nearby who looked suspiciously like Benedict Cumberbatch. I was far away and tried to take a picture, without looking like I was taking a picture, and got the shot attached. Jenny went down to see if I was crazy and was unable to make a definitive ID. As big fans, neither of us wanted to get too close to him, given our coughing and sneezing, so I’ll just assume I was right. Oh and Benedict, if you were in the Phoenix airport on Tuesday around lunchtime, your welcome for not disturbing you, or making you sick, or whatever. Oh, and I apologize for taking the picture when you were taking a bite. Good idea, wearing that cap. It hid that pesky third eye.

We arrived at Ontario airport a few minutes early, and Christy was there to collect us, with her own mask firmly in place. After picking up something from McDonald’s we arrived home to our welcoming kitties (see photo) and took COVID tests before eating, and our temperatures. Tests positive, temps around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Christy ate in the other room. (Crap!)

Obviously no golf for me on Wednesday, luckily it was too hot anyway. Both of us spent most of the day in our rooms and in our beds. I tried to read, but mostly dozed. At midnight last night, I woke in a puddle to find my fever had broken and headed down stairs to allow the sheets and pillows to dry (it was sweat, humorists!). About 1:30 a.m., I returned to my bed and slept soundly. My temp this morning was 98.9. Coughing less now and sneezing less, I decided it’s time to return to the keyboard, write this missive, and work on the corrections my Alpha reader has for me on Myths and Memories. Two other friends from the conference who flew in, R.J. Johnson (See photo) and Ken Andrus, have confirmed they are similarly afflicted. So far the folks from Oklahoma, seem to be okay. Fingers crossed that we picked it up on the way out. Will retest on Saturday assuming we got it on Monday and provide an update for your inquiring minds.

Best wishes and Aloha.

To be Benedict or not to be Benedict? That is the question.

Cats happy to see us. Really?

R. J. Johnson at Conference before infection. I never found one of Ken.

The Bad News Bear-er-s.