Let me say upfront that I did not have COVID. My poor niece has it, though, and she’s been suffering. Ever the momma, though, Alison opted to quarantine in a tent in the yard (more on that in a moment) rather than expose her two children to the virus.
My own illness was far more plebeian, though fairly uncomfortable in its own special way. It laid me low for most of last week and has left me fatigued and cranky. Which is one reason that it’s been, good grief, 11 days since I last posted here.
Still trying to form coherent thoughts, as well as to catch up on assignments whose deadlines I missed. I’ve also been dropping off things I think my niece could use: ice for the cooler, washed grapes, chicken noodle soup, Ritz crackers and, for fun, a sleeve of Otter Pops. (We’d been reminiscing about freezer pops recently, so when I saw a box of 80 OPs for just $3.29 in the “manager’s special” bin, I snatched it up.)
I don’t go into her home or her tent, or even near them. Instead, I set the stuff near the front door and text her kids to come get them. They come out with masks on, chat briefly (from a distance) about how it’s going and go back into the plague house.
About that tent: A friend of Alison’s referred to the quarantine tent as “the ’Rona Cabana,” and that earworm* would not leave my head.
The only way to get it out was, of course, to write about it.
Last night before bed I wrote “The ’Rona Cabana” and put it up on Facebook, tagging Alison. The reaction from her and from others has been so positive that I thought I’d post it here, for those who don’t do social media.
COVID: A reason for song
Sing “The ’Rona Cabana,” if you must, to the tune of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana.” It doesn’t quite scan with Manilow’s orchestration, but this karaoke link is a bit more freeform and therefore forgiving.
If you haven’t thought of that song in years, or if you never knew it, “Copacabana” is a really bad earworm. Consider yourself warned.
Her name is Ali, she’s an Alaskan.
So COVID-careful! Two years she’s been maskin’
Vaccinated right away, in a public-healthy way.
So smart, so cautious, yet one day she felt nauseous**.
Her head began to pound, and then she hit the ground.
Now she’s roughin’ it in the yard, protectin’ her kids though it’s so hard
Out in the ’Rona, ’Rona Cabana,
Where Powerade tastes just like manna,
In the cold ’Rona, ’Rona Cabaaaana,
Mucinex and aspirin are always the fashion
At the Rona – she feels like hell.
Her name is Ali, a single momma
Doesn’t care that moose pass by, so close to where she lies
She’s got her cooler, she’s got her doggo
To protect her in that COVID foggo.
Her kids aren’t absent, they leave food outside the tent.
She warns them away, doesn’t want them to pay
For a virus that no one can seem to wish away.
Out in the ’Rona, ’Rona Cabana,
She eats analgesics by the handful
Out in the ’Rona, ’Rona Cabaaaana,
If this headache won’t quit, Ali’s poor head will split,
In the ’Ronaaaa, she feels like shit.
Can’t say I didn’t warn you. My apologies, and I hope to have something a little less tuneful posted later this week.
*Also known as a SIMHAD: Stuck in my head all day.
**The correct term would be “nauseated.” But that doesn’t rhyme with “cautious.”
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The kids and I sang Copacabana loudly in the car and I sing it to myself often, but it is not an earworm for me. Funny Rona Cabana!
I laughed at the song! Hope you and your family will all be feeling well very soon
I literally laughed out loud! As I was reading your version, Barry was singing along in my head 😂. Bad ear-worm indeed…..so now I must share with my sisters, who both work at hospitals. Glad you are feeling better and hope your niece a speedy recovery at the “Rona Cabana”
Thanks for your good wishes. Hope it gives your sisters a chuckle. No doubt they need one.
ROTFLMAO!!!
We just got over 2 weeks of the coronavirus. My husband tested positive but I didnt test myself. I just assumed I had it since our symptoms were identical. I’m just thankful we got it now rather than the beginning of the pandemic. I’m wishing your neice a speedy recovery. The song was cute. I’m m sorry you were ill as well
Ha ha! Got a good laugh out of that one! Now hopefully it won’t be playing in my ear all day!
I can relate to Ali. DH and I are recovering from The Vid here in Massachusetts. We successfully evaded it for 2 1/2 years only to get knocked down at a local comedy show. At least we both got it and could quarantine and commiserate together. Poor Ali out in her little ‘Rona Cabana! That’s a good Mom for ya.
Yes. She’s a good momma, and her house is very small. Fortunately we’ve had an amazing string of clear days and “hot” (70s) weather, so tent-dwelling isn’t too bad.
70 degrees is hot? OMG! Try being in Texas — every day since July 1 we’ve had 100 degrees or more. Seventy would seem like heavenly springtime. Meanwhile, I hope everyone in the Freedman family is feeling well and healthy by now. Quarantining in a tent is above and beyond the call of duty for anyone, but moms always go above and beyond, don’t they?
Moms often do go above and beyond. And sometimes beyond the beyond.
Your saying that 70 isn’t hot is like me saying, “35 degrees Fahrenheit is cold?!? OMG! Try being in Alaska, where the temperature could be 35 below zero (or colder) for many days in a row.” We all experience weather in our own special ways. My daughter would likely put on warm clothes if it were 40 degrees, but she blithely experiences 100-plus temperatures for weeks at a time in Phoenix. During my visits, though, I’m panting like a dog in weather that to her is an annoyance but to me is a personal affront.
That said, I sure wish I could send some of our recent cool ‘n’ cloudy weather down to the Lower 48. Just about everyone could use it.
I’m sorry you were sick too and glad you’re feeling better. Take care.
Thanks. I hope to be able to whip my weight in city councilmen soon (to quote John Steinbeck).
Wow hope you are both feeling better! Your illness clearly did not impact your creative writing abilities LOL The take off on Copacabana was hilarious! Now it is running through my head!
You were warned…. 😉
Song is good but the virus(es) are not. I hope you both feel well soon.
So sorry you were sick, too: COVID or not-COVID, sick is sick. But about that song: Are you saying that you’re a Fan-ilow (with apologies to Seinfeld)?
Not particularly a fan. But the quip about “the ‘Rona Cabana” just begged for a response.
Thanks for a much-needed giggle! The Rona Cabana indeed. I just returned (masked) to work after a week of ‘Rona — even though fully vaxxed and boostered. Not Fun.
Glad yours wasn’t, and that you’re back!
Ouch. Hope you can move slowly and not over-task yourself until you’re fully healed. Some people bounce right back, but for others…Well, there’s a reason they call them “long-haulers.”
That was so funny! Thank goodness the weather has been nice for Ali to be residing in the Rona Cabana.
The only time I have ever regretted buying our present house was when we ran out of bedrooms while half the household needed to quarantine and the other half wasn’t sick. But we got by with some makeshift sleeping arrangements.
Love this- as I sit here trying to recover from the dreaded virus. Same as your niece-super careful for 2 and a half years….Got it after returning from a 6 and a half week road trip through the Midwest with no issues. Went out to dinner indoors 4 days after getting home with a friend who tested positive 2 days later. Diagnosed 3 weeks ago and still struggling with congestion and fatigue.
You are a wonderful aunt-so thoughtful to scout out your niece’s favorite treats. Hope both of you feel better soon.
Oh dear. So sorry you are feeling the bad symptoms. Perhaps you need to eat some tomato sandwiches…?
Funny you should mention the tomatoes-just coming into season in your former home state. My frugal DH picked up a big basket of “seconds” for $5 when he picked up our CSA order yesterday. I think tomato sandwiches and gazpacho will be on the menu this week!
Sigh.