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Visiting Jan During COVID

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes, 32 seconds
Visiting Jan During COVID

Visiting Jan During COVID

The Visit

“Welcome. Before seeing your wife, put on this hospital gown, gloves, and shoe coverings,” said the nurse as she welcomed me to the COVID unit. I have never been good at putting on hospital gowns, but I did it on the first try. The gloves and shoe coverings were a little more complicated.

When they opened the door to her room, Jan’s smile was so large and warm that it melted my heart and could have melted every ice cube in the universe.

I love you,” Jan shouted.

I responded with, “I love you so very much!”

Visiting Jan During COVID
Jan Lilien

The nurse asked me, “Would you like a photo?”

I handed her my iPhone and did not even think of taking my mask off.

“How do these photos look?”

Jan said they were perfect.

As this nurse left, she said I could take off my mask.

I stopped getting lunch ready and reached over and kissed Jan. It had been so long since we were together that this kiss felt like our first.

As soon as we finished lunch, Dr. Strair entered the room. I reach for my mask, but he says it is OK to say unmasked.

Jan and I start to speak at the same time. “Thanks…”

I stop, and Jan finishes our shared thought, “Thanks for letting Richard visit me.

I was worried about your emotional state and advocated for a visit,” Dr. Strair responded.

“Thank you so very much,” I said.

“We analyzed the pathology report, and it indicated that Janice has an expression of CD30, which is very treatable, and we plan to begin therapy tomorrow. The treatment is effective and fast-acting and does not lower blood counts,” said Dr. Strair.

It was Jan’s first hearing about this, and she looked relieved and happy.

This is wonderful news,” she said. “Are there any side effects or risks?”

Dr. Strair explained moderate risks but stressed the potential for rapid improvement.

“I am willing to try anything that will help me.”

“Good, I will write the orders to start treatment.”

“I just want her healthy and home,” I say.

We had survived COVID, the never-ending ER visit, but we were together and had hope. This lucky break made us believe that Spring was about to burst open.

We were more in love than ever when I walked back to our car.

Jan will live; I screamed as I walked into the parking deck. She is going to live and be home soon.

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The Bully Pulpit

Read: October 2019

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The Bully Pulpit

by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin is a history of the first decade of the Progressive era told by focusing on the intense friendship of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

Although I had read many books about Theodore Roosevelt, I had limited knowledge about Taft until I read this book. Reading about their friendship and its eventual collapse helped me to understand both of these presidents and the times in which they lived in a way I had not understood previously.

The Bully Pulpit is also the story of the muckraking press, which arouses the spirit of reform that helps Roosevelt push the government to shed its laissez-faire attitude toward robber barons, corrupt politicians, and corporate exploiters of our natural resources. The muckrakers are portrayed through the greatest group of journalists ever assembled at one magazine—Ida Tarbell, Ray Stannard Baker, Lincoln Steffens, and William Allen White—teamed under the mercurial genius of publisher S. S. McClure.

Goodwin’s narrative is founded upon a wealth of primary materials. The correspondence of more than four hundred letters between Roosevelt and Taft begins in their early thirties and ends only months before Roosevelt’s death. Edith Roosevelt and Nellie Taft kept diaries. The muckrakers wrote hundreds of letters to one another, kept journals, and wrote their memoirs. The letters of Captain Archie Butt, who served as a personal aide to both Roosevelt and Taft, provide an intimate view of both men.

I recommend this book without reservations.

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Death Takes Me

Read: December 2025

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Death Takes Me: A Novel

by Cristina Rivera Garza

Originally written in Spanish by Cristina Rivera Garza, Death Takes Me is a thrilling masterpiece of literary fiction that turns the traditional crime narrative of gendered violence on its head. As sharp as the cuts on the bodies of the victims, the story unfolds with the dreamlike logic of a surreal experience, transitioning from the police station to a professor’s classroom and through the intricate worlds of Latin American poetry and art. It invites readers to explore the unstable terrains of desire and sexuality.

A city is always a cemetery.

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Read: July 2026

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Blunt Instrument

by Amy Bloom

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Amy Bloom is the New York Times bestselling author of novels, short stories, memoir, and nonfiction. She has written for magazines such as The New Yorker, New York Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, Vogue, Elle, The Atlantic, Slate, and Salon. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages. Blunt Instrument is her first crime novel. Amy resides in Connecticut and recently retired as Wesleyan University’s Shapiro-Silverberg Professor of Creative Writing, while continuing to work as a psychotherapist and a novelist.

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Read: January 2026

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The Rest of Our Lives

by Ben Markovits

The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits is a beautifully crafted, tender, and insightful story that depicts the journey of starting anew. Tom Layward, the protagonist, chooses not to return home after dropping his daughter off at college. This life-affirming road trip novel explores themes of marriage, middle age, and a man confronting a pivotal moment. It was a finalist for the 2025 Booker Prize.

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Discover your next favorite book and dive into a world of curated, exciting reads by purchasing through my links. You’ll have access to a diverse selection of books that I’ve personally vetted to ensure quality and enjoyment. Additionally, by supporting these selections, you’ll help me continue to provide you with more personalized recommendations. I earn a small commission from your purchase, which allows me to buy and share even more books with you. Your support truly makes a difference!

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Read: December 2024

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Read: May 2026

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Yesteryear: A Novel

by Caro Claire Burke

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A gripping, electrifying novel that is as darkly funny as it is frightening, Yesteryear is a gimlet-eyed look at tradition, fame, faith, and the grand performance of womanhood.

Caro Claire Burke earned her Master’s in Fine Arts from the Bennington Writing Seminars. She co-hosts Diabolical Lies, a politics and culture podcast. Yesteryear is her debut novel.

Discover your next favorite book and dive into a world of curated, exciting reads by purchasing through my links. You’ll have access to a diverse selection of books I’ve personally vetted for quality and enjoyment. Supporting these selections not only helps me continue to provide you with personalized recommendations but also ensures you have access to meaningful stories that enrich your life. Your support truly makes a difference in helping me share more books and insights with you!

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