Choosing Joy and Vaccines…

It is hard to believe it has been a little over a year since the first person to have Covid-19 was announced in America. Over 400,000 people have died since then, quite the tragedy. And on the 20th of January America swore in a new president who hopes he will be able to turn the tide on this pandemic. We all certainly hope so.

Sharon and I were able to receive our first Covid vaccines as “Winter Texans” about three weeks ago. We had the Moderna mRNA vaccine and will receive our second shot next Thursday. Our daughter in North Carolina, a health care worker, had her second shot of the Pfizer vaccine yesterday.

For those who don’t know the Moderna vaccine requires a second vaccination four weeks after the first one. The Pfizer vaccine requires a second vaccination three weeks after the first one. They are nearly identical mRNA vaccines and as such seem to have the same side effects.

Sharon and I had sore arms with redness around the vaccination site as did our daughter who had the Pfizer shot. Sharon also had a very slight fever and a minor headache the first night.. After a few days both Sharon and Katie’s arm soreness and redness dissipated. My soreness stayed a day longer but my arm redness (and it was warm to touch) persisted for about 11 days.

I have read a lot about the side effects after the second vaccine so we will know what to expect. It seems the worst side effects are similar to a bad flu for 12-24 hours. It apparently is worse in younger people as they have a more robust immune system.

In the meantime I am also having fun with my new camera. I was even fortunate enough to capture a photo on one bird I have only seen a few of (taking a bath) and one I had never seen before, a “lifer” for the birders out there. I will add photos in a later blog but will tell you the first was a Clapper Rail and the “lifer” was a Least Bittern.

Sharon too is getting acquainted with my older camera and having fun now that she can zoom in on things.She enjoys taking pictures that reflect happiness whereas I focus on nature. She has become quite the photographer. Her favorites lately are landscapes where she often pronounces “I choose joy!” and as such so do I.

Everyday life has been different and challenging in the midst of the pandemic but we would like to invite you to choose joy with us as we continue to travel on our Road of Retirement…

NOTE:  We are currently in South Padre Island in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas until March 1st…