This post comes to you with all of the misery that comes post vaccination, as I am suffering the impact of having had my covid and flu boosters. No regrets here, but, I am not exactly comfortable. As always, it is a good reminder of just how much more miserable I would be if I were to actually get Covid or the flu. I will take my masks and my vaccinations, thank you very much.
This time my vaccinations are part of a plan to fly for the first time since The Before Times. Hard to be sure which Before Times I am referencing here because it is not just the first time I am flying since the beginning of the pandemic, but also since I got Etisarap, my feeding tube. Because both bring a whole host of complications.
Covid precautions are relatively easy. We got our boosters and we intend to mask for the trip. No different than our usual practices. We have negotiated with our hosts for them to up their own covid precautions and test before we arrive so that we can stay with them.
I got this far in writing this post before I got waylaid by a UTI. Far be it for me to waste effort these days, so you will just get a bifurcated post. Pre and post antibiotics.
As I was saying, the Covid precautions are pretty straightforward. And we have traveled by car, so I have at least a sense of what packing will look like. Although, everything needs to be more consolidated by air, so we will likely need to buy a new piece of luggage. We actually have plenty of luggage. In storage. But we only brought two carry on suitcases with us because we figured we only every travel carry on only. Well, those days are over.
The first thing is my formula. Because I have yet to get confirmation from my supply company that my formula was approved. I was able to find a way to order my formula directly from Nestle. It has arrived and I am back on the adult formula. This presents me with an opportunity, rather than carry nearly a case of formula with me to the west coast, I am going to ship a case of formula directly to the friends that we will be staying with. That will save some misery because we have a lot to haul with us.
Obviously, I have to travel with more than 3.5oz of liquid. I have filed my notice with TSA and gotten their confirmation. I am not quite sure what this will look like when we actually hit security. But I do know that we are going to want to leave plenty of time for them to be confused by me. Just because everyone seems confounded when they encounter my G/J tube.
David requested a wheelchair for me when he booked us our tickets. There is no way that I have the energy to navigate JFK airport. Speaking of which, how ridiculous is it that we live 3 miles from LaGuardia airport, but we are flying out of JFK which is nigh impossible to get to from here. For clarity, both airports are located in Queens.
That is as far as we have gotten in our planning. I already miss the days when I just threw my clothes and meds in my suitcase and went anywhere. But this is my reality and I have no choice but to own that travel has just become much more complicated for us. I am grateful, however, that difficult doesn’t mean impossible.