Is it me, or was this the summer that never was? Sure, we had some nice weather, but nothing spectacular. We went out to the cottage 3 times for a total of 11ish days and I didn’t go swimming once. I was sick (allergies) the first weekend, weather was crappy the second weekend, and the week we were there, yes, the weather was lovely, but it wasn’t warm, and I was recovering from covid.

Ah, yes, covid. Such a thing of the past. So 2020. *eyeroll*

And yet, I was the sickest I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve had a longer recovery from covid than recovery from my gall bladder surgery last summer! In fact, I’d rather have surgery again – recovery from covid has been hard. I called in sick to work on 12 August and tested positive on 13 August and I was actively sick for 2 weeks, tested negative, but extremely symptomatic for another week. We were on holidays (week at the cottage) the next week. Then 5 weeks of half days and after this week, ¾ days for 2 weeks before going back to work full time.

I think the hardest part about this summer has been the mental health aspect of everything. I knew I was really sick when I didn’t want to even do any art! I hardly sat out on my little patio, and the hammock didn’t even get set up! We didn’t go out any weekend to explore – partially because of the weather, but also because of my injury.

I was also recovering from a fall I had on 9 May. Though I didn’t actually break my foot or ankle or anything, I was in constant pain from it. I had a doctor’s appointment in July sometime and she requested me to be sent for an ultrasound and more x-rays as I should have healed within a month and now I was going onto 2 months – which was delayed as the appointment was the first day I tested positive for covid. When I finally did get it done, they actually did find something this time, so she put me on a round of intense anti-inflammatories and I start physio specifically for this problem next week.

I’m glad the anti-inflammatories are working – I was pain free while I was sick with covid, but I also spent the majority of 3 weeks in bed. As soon as I started becoming more mobile, the pain came back. I wish someone had ordered the ultrasound earlier as it was obvious that the person had found something. He had the wand and he was grinding down on a particular spot – like he was trying to move connective tissues aside. He asked me if it hurt – as I was trying not to move, gritting my teeth, and white knuckling the table. Of course, he couldn’t say anything, but it was obvious.

So, between being in pain for… 5 months, crappy weather, and covid, this really was the summer that never was!