Covid? Novid!

In a recent blog I mentioned how I've never had Covid. While almost everyone I know has had it already, and many have had it twice, I've never even had it once. I'm like a unicorn.

That would be a nice term for people like me— "unicorns"— but alas that's not what the media are calling us. Months ago it was "Covid virgins", aligning us with the negative social stigma of things like "The 40 year old virgin". Then "Covid dodgers", aligning us with the negative social stigma of draft dodgers[1]. The latest term, which I saw while researching how many people have never had Covid, is "Novids". Novids.... Hey, at least that doesn't sound like stigma!

By the way, the question I was researching, How many people haven't had Covid, is not answered by the media or the scientific establishment anymore. In articles from a year ago there are estimates like "fewer than 50%". In the past few months all the articles are tut-tutting pieces like, "So you think you've never had Covid? Think again, you probably have, hahaha!"

Fuck their snotty pandering to the lowest common denominator. I'm a Novid and proud.

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[1] Yes, I'm aware there are arguments to be made why each of these things are/were actually good. The point is, the popular meaning of them is bad. They are insults.

Leavin' Lou'siana, Entering #50 out of 51

Mississippi Travelog #1 / New Orleans travelog #10
Pinckneyville, MS - Tuesday, 25 Apr 2023, 12pm

This morning we left New Orleans. We slept in a bit after both of us had rough nights, packed our bags after breakfast and showers, walked over to the car rental depot on Canal Street at 9:30, and hit the road a bit past 10am. Our destination: Mississippi.



"Why Mississippi?" a lot of my friends have asked. The state doesn't have a great reputation for things to do... or civil rights... or even democratic process anymore. Well, Mississippi is on my bucket list. One of my bucket lists, that is. I want to visit all the states in the US. I've been to 48 + Washington, DC so far. Having crossed this line today I'm down to only Alaska as the one state I haven't visited.

We're doing more than just tapping a foot and leaving. In other words, we did find stuff to do in Mississippi. We're going hiking at some waterfalls this afternoon, then at a canyon tomorrow. In between we'll stay overnight in Columbia. Part of my goal with this bucket list is to visit each state on more than a technicality. I aim to genuinely spend time and see & do stuff in each state.

And as far as those other concerns.... As a mixed-race family we have discussed risk mitigation for this trip. 😓