I laughed last week when I read where Covid testing centers are shutting down because no one is using them. And it appears, despite conflicting reports from some areas, that the pandemic has slowed down to where it is almost a second thought news story.

I read all of this last week while I was in isolation at home recovering from Covid. If you follow my column, you know I was scheduled for colon cancer surgery April 19. On April 17 I was given a Covid pre-op test. For the eighth time since the pandemic began the results were negative.

Tuesday morning as they were prepping me for surgery my temperature spiked over 100. I was given another Covid test, and the ninth time wasn’t the charm. I tested positive.

At the time I had no symptoms. Three hours later I felt like I had a turbo charged version of the flu. Tuesday and Wednesday were miserable. I started feeling better Thursday.

My isolation ended Sunday and I ventured out wearing a mask. I avoided church because I didn’t want to expose anyone if I was still contagious. I am not sure which variant or sub-variant I had, but I was told it was an airborne infection.

By the time you read this column I should be able to go out in public without a mask. In the case of Covid I had prepared myself to not get sick. The vaccine and two boosters, however, did not protect me from being infected.

And if you read the fine print on the vaccine it doesn’t claim to protect you completely from infection, but the vaccine and the boosters are designed to keep symptoms at a minimum level.

Considering all the co-morbidity issues I have it appears the shots were effective in keeping me from being hospitalized. I also was prescribed a drug package which also appeared to help.

Throughout it all I never lost my taste or smell. However, my mouth felt like an army had marched through it wearing muddy boots.

There is a third booster available. I know one person who has received it and the aftereffects were harsh. Still, I will take it sometime soon.

As I have written before in this column whether or not someone decides to be vaccinated for Covid is a personal choice. The decision is up to you.

One of my friends wondered out loud the other day if we would ever be rid of Covid. I told him I doubted it would ever completely go away.

I know I can get it again, but I have met the enemy and I refuse to let it control my life any more than it already has.