It's a good thing I don't believe in curses or I would stop taking vacations altogether.
The first time was back in 2014 or '15. I took a cruise from Florida to Rome with a group of writers. It was a terrific time during which we all worked on our writing, had dinner together, and enjoyed ourselves in our various ways. The worst part of that cruise was that, to save money, I had opted for an inside cabin. Never again! It's awful not to have fresh air and natural light. So I just spent a lot of time exploring the ship and writing wherever I could find a place to tuck away.
After the cruise, some of us stayed in a rental apartment in Rome for a few days. I loved that, my first time to the eternal city. I had to cut my time short, however, when Sweet Hubby's mother died unexpectedly. I got on a plane in Rome, headed for home so that I could accompany him to Tennessee for her funeral. I was fine when I got on the plane, but had pneumonia by the time I arrived home. I felt terrible sending Sweet Hubby off to face the funeral by himself, and he felt terrible leaving me when I was so sick, but we both understood the unfortunate confluence of circumstances.
Then there was the bus tour of Spain I took with my sister in 2018. There were 28 of us traveling together with an excellent tour guide. Everyone seemed to get along quite well, and the towns and cities we visited were all absolutely fascinating. However, one woman got on the bus with a cough, and within a week, 19 of us were sick; four of us, including sister and I, were sick enough to have to go to a hospital for X-rays and treatment. This was pre-COVID, so no one thought either she or all of us should be wearing masks. It was tough dragging around Spain with a 102 temp. I'm still glad we went, but what turned out to be bronchitis did put a dent in our sense of adventure and joy.
Earlier this year, SH and I went to Alaska to attend his best friend's daughter's wedding. A lovely event with great food (all the crab legs you could eat), dancing, and an amiable crowd. However, someone in that crowd had COVID, so the wedding turned out to be a super-spreader event. I caught it, my first case. Oddly enough, SH did not, even after we came home and he was taking care of me.
Most recently I went on a cruise to Alaska with a best friend from Los Angeles. We had a wonderful time playing games, walking the promenade deck, eating, talking and laughing together. However (by now you can see it coming, can't you) on the return voyage we were both diagnosed with COVID, my second case, his first. This meant we were both quarantined to our separate cabins for the last 5 days of the cruise. It wasn't horribly punishing. This time I had made sure to get a cabin with a balcony, which made all the difference. If I'd been in an inside cabin, I think I would have gone certifiably insane. I'd bought books to read; there was a large TV loaded with movies; room service was pretty great. Still, the enforced quarantine meant I missed having more time with my friend, which was too bad.
And once again, SH managed not to get COVID from me, and still hasn't had it. So if I'm wrong and there is such a thing as a curse, it's completely focused on me and misses him every time. But since I don't believe in curses, I'm going to continue to take vacations, and if I end up getting sick on every one of them, I'm saying ahead of time that it's worth it. So there, Universe.
