I have been making weekly visits to a "Board-and-Care" facility to visit a friend whose health has been steadily ebbing. In the past months, decorations transitioned from Halloween to Thanksgiving and then Christmas.

The patients line the hallway to get out of their room and see anything other than television. The place is busy with staff sitting at computer stations, preparing meals, performing maintenance, delivering medication, etc.

The place is clean, but challenging as so many are near death or at least look like it. Outside, a sign advertises perpetually open employment positions. Upon entering, I sign in and don a mask.

Last week, my friend said that Covid had been detected. I debated with myself about going, having evaded Covid so far. My brother and several other friends got Covid this year and required a lengthy recovery.

So I went this week figuring I'd do my best to hold my breath. After signing in, the place is a complete ghost-town. No one is in sight. Except for the receptionist, even the staff that normally sit behind the counter are gone. The doors to the wards are all closed or only cracked open. Totally different!!!

My stay is difficult as it usually is, only barely understanding the mumbling of my friend. Actually, she seems quite lucid and the mumbling is sometimes frenetic; I'd be hard-pressed to keep up if she spoke clearly.

I have an excuse to skip next week, but I'm still shocked at the transformation from one week to the next. Pretty scary...