March 2020
A week before the metro was locked down, I went on a local tour at the National Museum and at Paco Park.
When the virus spread across the globe and the pandemic started, I was locked up in my place. Alone. I have no one but myself to do everything that needs to be done, chores and all. While supermarkets were open, I was scared to go out of the comforts of my unit. Positive cases were fast rising in the neighborhood. For the rare moments I go outside, I wear the mask and the shield
I have food and groceries delivered, but only up to the gates. Non-residents are not allowed inside the condo grounds. That made me push the cart from the gate to the elevator, and carry the load to my pantry. I tried to eat a healthy and balanced diet, mostly pescatarian. I would scout social media for kitchen hacks and store suggestions. For the most part of my community quarantine, I have ordered groceries from Landers, Marketplace, and SM Hypermarket. The easiest veggie I could source was cabbage.
What I never knew was that cabbage can also be thyrotoxic. Once, I got a rotten one. Although it has been resolved by SM, I cannot help but somehow blame it.
In between our Work From Home (WFH) arrangement, we get called to be on duty at the airport twice a month. Garbed with complete PPE, we brace ourselves and face the influx of Filipinos from across the globe, mostly OFWs.
December 2020, the quarantine was relaxed. I flew to Cebu for a week. My mama noticed the slight difference of my neck. I brushed it off as just fats.
2021
Back to my place, in between Modified Community Quarantine, I scheduled myself for a pictorial. This is to mark my 50 years of existence in the universe.
I got dolled up and dressed up, and I posed for posterity.
Alert levels went up every now and then, so I celebrated my 50th alone, with video calls from family and friends.
It was my vanity that made me scrutinize all the shots taken. I saw that the left part of my neck was noticeably bigger than the right. I scheduled an appointment with the doctors, and had myself tested.
Blood test was normal. So I just kept on working, either WFH or in the airport.
When the vaccines were already available at the workplace, I got myself vaccinated.
Even during the holidays, we reported to work and were called to assist in the US departures.
