ON COVID 19 VACCINATION

 Finally...we got our second dose of the Covid19 vaccination the other day. Stayed home all day yesterday since I got almost all of the possible side effects of the vaccine. I had dizziness,chills, all body muscle aches,low grade fever of 100.2 , headache,diarrhea and abdominal cramps. And my vaccination site on my arm was red, swollen and itchy. It didn’t cause me any alarm because I am aware that that’s to be expected particularly with the second dose.And  at the same time it gave me an assurance that the vaccine is taking effect on my body. All I needed was a single Tylenol for my fever and cold compress applied on my swollen arm. All of the symptoms were moderate and quick enough that it made me tolerate them well and all had vanished by the afternoon today. On the other hand, Vladimir only had soreness on the injection arm. He worried that maybe the vaccine is not taking effect on him. But not everyone reacts the same and actually older people tend to have lesser side effects than younger ones. Aside from all the side effects I got, getting the vaccine was a real struggle. From the perpetual crashing of the appointment website ...to constantly on the watch on appointment openings up to the wee hours of the morning even  involving other family members and friends so as not to miss anything that may pop out ...to waiting hours  in long line at the vaccination site ...to all the confusion on getting the second dose because no appointment was given after the first dose...to the frustration on how things were handled ...but turned into the patience and understanding when I see the everyday efforts on improving the system. Through all these, would I have still have gotten vaccinated? Absolutely! I have never felt so determined. I have faith and hope. I’m a firm believer in Science. I feel it’s my responsibility for the benefit of everyone in the entire world. I’m someone who lost a 50 year old niece to Covid19 and a sister to someone who is still suffering from all the ill effects of the virus. I want this pandemic to end !

She was extraordinary ❤️

 She was a smart precocious toddler...She excelled in grade and high school...She graduated Cum Laude in college...She had the best thesis in graduate school...She was brilliant and outstanding in all of the jobs she took...She was a true intellectual...She never lost the passion for learning...She had a strong opinion to always prove her point...She was popular, a go getter...She was always the life of the party...She had tons of friends and followers ...She had connections that would ease her way out of any given situation...She made any story interesting...She had the loudest and most contagious laugh...She was a leader and a challenger...She was brave...She will not easily give up...She courageously battled cancer...She was not afraid of encountering anything, except for her greatest fear of catching Covid ! ...She was my 50 year old niece, Leah Gotera Garcia 🙏

April 2, 1970 ❤️- January 4, 2021 🖤

ENDURANCE AND MINDFULNESS IN THE MIDST OF COVID-19

Vladimir and I had never spent more time together day in and day out under the confines of our house than these days of the Covid-19 lockdown. We are retired for a few years now but we have kept busy all the time. But now gone are my days at the gym, shopping at malls, volunteering and ladies lunch dates. Gone are his days  playing music at the senior center, men's breakfast club and Home Depot runs.Gone are our trip to the movie theaters once or twice a week, dinners, lunches and happy hours, shows and  field trips with friends. Gone are our visits and trips to our children and grandchildren. 

Being together constantly made me more aware of his idiosyncrasies. One example would be a story about toilet paper, a valuable commodity these days. Even before the pandemic, I have always had an obsession with toilet papers. It's one thing our house will never run out or a product I will skimp on.  It's one thing I'll never trust Vladimir to get at the store by himself. It has to be of the good brand. It's something always readily available and visible to our house guests in case the paper on the holder is on it's last roll. I would never want to put a guest in a situation to ask me where the extra toilet paper is kept or get caught opening the bathroom cabinet looking for one.When I'm a house guest for an extended time, I had even gone and replenished my host's supply. I couldn't  imagine anyone running out of something necessary. And strangely I would secretly include a roll or two in packing my suitcase for a trip, just in case! There’s always ample supply in our house so when the lockdown began  I didn’t have to panic and and feel guilty of joining the hoarders. 

Since the lockdown has been going on for so long it worried me because we're on the last 3 packs of jumbo rolls. While I was at the garage the other day, I noticed there are only 2 packs in the shelf. I looked around and to my surprise I found the missing one in the corner.  I almost didn’t recognize it , it was all squeezed down.There's no way I would buy a toilet paper in such condition! Just like one of his innovations, Vladimir  used the pack as a knee pad while working on a project. He owns a pair of knee pads  and a soft mat for that purpose. But the toilet paper pack was closer and easier to find! And maybe softer?How can someone do that to the precious toilet paper?

There's also the mess he makes of the kitchen. Never mind that he's the one who cooks every meal, he would always get a reprimand. When he cooks, I would not want to be in the kitchen and will come out only when all the mess is ready to be cleaned. I would have to constantly remind him that there are different cutting boards to use for meat, vegetables and cheese...not to use a steak knife as a screw driver....or use the garlic press to crack open a nut...or not to trust the dishwasher to scrub the dirty dishes and to load it the proper way...not to drip water on the floor while looking for the towel which should always be on the hanger...and I wonder why there's  always salt grains and sugar granules scattered all over the table, he would  tell me it's for good luck as in any Bulgarian dining table!

I would always make sure he doesn't beat me in washing the clothes on which he always insists on doing... he would overload the washer...without any sorting...not checking  his pants pockets for rubber bands, coins, receipts, napkins, nails and screws before throwing them in...not selecting the proper cycle... forgetting the softener.

He is constantly looking for his phone which is almost always on mute...his eyeglasses, car keys, hat, jacket ...and who would ever put a remote control in his shirt pocket and move to another room and then can't find it? He can never find a pair of scissors from his many collection when he needs it, but he will find one that I have secretly hidden for my own use. I often wondered how he can find a certain size of screw or nail from all of his tools scattered all over the garage. If I let him, he would turn the dining table into a workshop.

Are his snores becoming  louder or am I just keeping more awake at night  and jealous of how he could sleep through all what's happening?

He is constantly hungry. Didn't we just eat? I have to watch and remind him to eat only one energy bar at a time to curve his hunger and protein shake is to replace a meal and not a snack. He's never  been as determined to lose unwanted weight. He is  successfully  achieving it by baking his own whole grain bread, but what a mess the dough makes! And he doesn't need to weigh himself several times a day. I would know because I constantly hear the talking scale, "Please step on the scale...your weight is"...

These are only some of  things that bothered me and had  endured for 45 years.But somehow lately they seem different, they have  become more of something  for me to laugh about.And I'm sure I have my own share that he just conveniently ignores.

Being mindful these quarantine days also makes me appreciate a company who  enables me to cope. I spend my days with  a jack of all trades... a plumber at our kitchen lockdown disaster... a musician who turns my request of a  sad ballad into a jazzy beat...a jokester who is always quick with something to make me laugh...the best friend, caretaker and dance partner to our cat...a committed driver who makes sure I get a feel of the outdoor even for a while at the nearby park each quarantine days.... a source of encyclopedic knowledge when I needed the history behind a movie or an opera that I'm watching... an  inventor and fixer of almost anything I broke  applying his MacGyver skills...a tireless blogger, twitter and writer whose energy,  passion  and curiosity I wish to have. 

I realized all these years, I can't do anything wrong even when I gave him the worst haircut which  made him into a laughing stock. How insensitive I have been with the breakfasts in bed he prepares with a heart shaped fried egg that I complain about because he can never get my preferred over medium style right. And that soggy bacon! And I also just realized that I always get the remaining  French fries, the last sip of Coke and the last bite of the  dark chocolate bar!

Throughout our marriage he has always been the optimist to my pessimist self and that always make me feel safe. He gives me hope that there will be  an end to the world crisis going on  right now.

I will be holding  on to my quarantine company, my soulmate, however long the remaining days of the lockdown for now....and beyond! 

50 YEARS OF FREEDOM 🇺🇸

#ComingtoAmerica #Freedom🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

50 years ago today on May 5,1970 the Minev family set foot in the US after escaping their country, Communist Bulgaria. Landing in JFK Airport in New York, Vladimir recalled his father going down on his knee to kiss the ground of their hard fought freedom. They settled in Akron Ohio where fate would lead Vladimir and I to cross our paths. A year and a half after they came the Akron Beacon Journal featured the family adapting to their new country.  George Sorbane ‘ s book “The Endless Beginning” wrote about the details of the family’s escape to freedom. A planned trip to the nation’s capital to celebrate this milestone had gone awry but we will go as soon as we can!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

REFLECTIONS IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

Last year as I was approaching my 70th birthday, I was overwhelmed by anxiety on 

becoming old! I never thought that at the same time this year there's a far more grave reason

to feel anxious. Who would have thought of the Covid19 pandemic?

 Will the fear and uncertainty now be the norm in the future of my children and grandchildren?

What will this do to their hope and confidence and trust? It is so heartbreaking to hear that 7 year

old Boris is keeping a tally daily of the number of cases the virus has infected in New York City the

epicenter of the US coronavirus outbreak and where he happens to live. He is doing this instead of learning and having fun in school. 4 year-old Magnus can't comprehend why his Grandpa and I can't go inside their house and why he can't come near us to get a hug. 

 To keep my mind off from everything, I paused if just for a moment and reflect on my life. Sitting on a seldom used rocking chair, I closed my eyes and the flashbacks began.

 My  7 year old self holding my recent widowed mother's hand asking her to take me to a place where  she was going to start a new life..... The sad and empty feeling of  growing up years in the absence of a father.....The sad day of leaving my friends and the place of my youth....

The day I set foot in the US....The day my brother walked me down the aisle to wed not a Filipino but only fate would let it happen, to a Communist country exile....Suddenly a whole new world open up for me, no longer detached and uncertain.....

The small, white first house with drafty windows in the corner of the street....The bright green neon green VW bug....The bigger white house with a big lawn in the suburb....The decision on a whim to move from Akron to Las Vegas...The opening up of opportunities in a bigger more diverse city....

The birth of 3 children...The footprints in the sand that grows bigger each summer in the Outer Banks....Their  unbelievable and exceeded any parents expectations of their accomplishments.... and still question myself if I have done enough ...Their happy wedding days to equally accomplished spouses....Seeing  the innocence on the faces of  grandchildren and envisioning the bright future ahead of them....

The rewarding 4 decades looking into a microscope....The new and busy social life retirement has rewarded...

Life is not perfect and it’s not expected to be ....There have been struggles, heartaches, impossible longings, that dreadful diagnosis, sadness of losing many loved ones. 

I've been lucky....I'm grateful....I will embrace each day until my next birthday.....

Missing my dear brother Kuya Donato

I miss my brother, Kuya Dr.Donato Cabrera very much but especially today on his first year death anniversary. I had a deep admiration for him ever since I was young. I was about 9 years old when he left the Philippines for the US . I wanted to be a doctor just like him , he rightly suggested I become a Medical Technologist instead .After college graduation, I too came to the US. He supported and guided me until I was able to be on my own. 45 years ago, he stood as my father as he gave me away on my wedding. We were both busy and occasionally see each other after then . In 2012, he moved to California from the Midwest , and we lived closer to each other. I’m so grateful and happy for those last 6 years. We became very close not only as siblings but most especially as best friends! We had chance to talk and know each other well as we have not done before. I realized how truly brilliant he was and had inspired me more! He talked to me about music, books,movies, art and much more . And many things about our father who died of heart condition just like him when I was only 3 years old. He encouraged me to read more . He carried a list of his 100 favorite books all the time and the first thing he wanted to know when he came was where the nearby library and gym were . Everyone was inspired by his heathy living , he ate in moderation and would not miss a day without going to the gym. He loved good food and would tell me what Filipino food he had tried to cook. He also liked fast food , we discussed his favorite hamburger joint and my favorite pizza parlor and our shared choice for the best pad thai place and how he thinks there’s nothing like Chinese food! He had a bucket list and one of them is to see the Grand Canyon and took a wonderful trip with him there. He talked with pride about his children as well as mine. He respected Mike’s opinions and advice as a physician like him. He always mentioned the great time he had in NYC at Chris ‘ wedding and how we danced at the reception. He had awaited Natalie’s wedding for a long time and sadly will miss it. I miss all these about him but he will continue to be my inspiration.

FORD FALCON

Each time we go back to Akron, Ohio , a place we always want to go to  is the  Sand Run Park. My husband, Vladimir has a special story about this park. In 1971, he and the Minev family (his parents Emil and Maria, his brother Alex and sister Nellie ) ended up in Akron after escaping from Communist Bulgaria. One of the places they marveled at their new country was the beautiful park. They would often drive across the park on weekends. On one of their drives, they noticed a wooden sign leading to a river stream. There was only a light drizzle that day but it rained earlier. A Chevrolet Impala drove past them . After reading the sign, they tried to turn around. A park ranger saw that they were having trouble backing out. He stopped and asked them where they were going. The ranger told them they were going the right way and didn't need to turn around. My husband told the ranger they had to because their car is a  FORD . The family were all just learning to speak English and none of them knew what the word  ford meant. The sign had been changed many times over the years and each time we go back , he always have to look for that sign and  always we have a laugh as we cross the ford. And this last time with a Nissan !  

On Sunday, October 29, 2017 I will be taking a short walk that will make a big difference. Together with my team, we will be participating at  the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in Las Vegas, Nevada. I have walked at this event since I was diagnosed with breast
cancer in 2009. Every time I walked, it gives me a great feeling of love, hope and togetherness of the people around me. Join me and my team for supporting a very great cause.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/?fr_id=84719&pg=team&team_id=2230747

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, I didn't ask "Why me?"knowing 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. Instead, I asked what I did or didn't do to be one of the statistics. I have no family history to blame on and was diligent in having screened every year. But there were quick answers. Because I had early menopause symptoms, I was put on HRT for relief. Every time I tried going off the pill, my discomfort came back. I was on it for a long time. I was overweight and my lack of energy made me too lazy to do exercise after stressful days at work. I was unhealthy and did not watch what I ate. I was extremely lucky that my cancer was caught on it's earliest stage. I had bilateral mastectomy with little pain and quick recovery. I did not need any chemotherapy,radiation or preventive oral therapy. I had a good health insurance that provided me with the best medical care. I was a hospital laboratory professional and my son was a medical resident  which made me well informed about all the procedures a cancer patient need to know. I had a husband and children whose love, care and concern deeply touched me at the time. All of these left me with a feeling of guilt. I thought of all the women who weren't  as lucky as me. I kept my diagnosis only to myself and my immediate family. I couldn't consider myself a survivor. As the years passed, I felt a responsibility to reach out and raise awareness on the importance of early detection. Today, I am proud to say that I'm a breast cancer survivor! I urge everyone to pay attention and eat well, be active, and get regular screenings. And if you are going through menopause, think twice before taking HRT!

Welcome To Tess's Micro Musings

I'm a retired Microbiologist from Las Vegas, NV who enjoys connecting on Social Media ! I'm also a Breast Cancer Early Detection Advocate !